Articles tagged with "water-harvesting"
Polymer paint-like coating cools buildings, captures water from air
Researchers from the University of Sydney and Dewpoint Innovations have developed a nano-engineered polymer coating that passively cools buildings and captures water from the air without requiring energy input. This porous polymer paint-like material reflects up to 97% of sunlight and radiates heat, keeping surfaces up to six degrees Celsius cooler than the surrounding air under direct sunlight. The cooler surface promotes condensation of atmospheric water vapor, enabling the collection of dew even in dry conditions. In a six-month outdoor trial on the Sydney Nanoscience Hub roof, the coating collected dew on over 32% of days, harvesting up to 390 mL of water per square meter daily under optimal conditions—sufficient for meeting the drinking water needs of one person with a 12-square-meter surface. The coating achieves high solar reflectivity through its internal porous structure, avoiding UV-absorbing pigments that limit traditional cool roof coatings and cause glare. This design balances performance with visual comfort and durability, maintaining robust functionality without degradation under harsh sunlight
materialsenergy-efficiencywater-harvestingpolymer-coatingssustainable-technologyclimate-resiliencenano-engineeringHow Can Local Knowledge & Culture Redefine Climate Adaptation Infrastructure? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights an innovative approach to climate adaptation infrastructure through the integration of local knowledge, culture, and art in Marou Village, a vulnerable coastal community in Fiji’s Yasawa archipelago. Facing severe climate threats such as cyclones, rising sea levels, and water scarcity, the village partnered with the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) to launch a design competition aimed at creating sustainable infrastructure that provides clean electricity and reliable freshwater. The competition required entries to include a solar photovoltaic mini-grid of at least 75 kW capacity, addressing both energy and water needs through regenerative systems adapted to the village’s environmental and cultural context. Out of 205 submissions from 45 countries, two winning designs were selected for their sensitivity to the land, climate, and community aspirations. One notable winning proposal, "The O" by Alberto Roncelli from Denmark, combines solar power and rainwater harvesting to generate 150 MWh of electricity and 1.2 million liters of filtered water
energyrenewable-energysolar-powersolar-photovoltaicclean-energywater-harvestingsustainable-infrastructureNew nanomaterial pulls drinking water straight out of thin air
An international team of researchers led by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov and Professor Rakesh Joshi has developed a novel nanomaterial capable of efficiently harvesting clean drinking water directly from atmospheric moisture. This featherlight material, made from calcium-intercalated graphene oxide aerogel, can absorb over three times its own weight in water. The material leverages enhanced hydrogen bonding created by combining calcium ions with graphene oxide, resulting in a synergistic effect that significantly boosts water adsorption beyond the sum of its individual components. Its porous aerogel structure allows rapid water uptake and easy release with mild heating to about 50°C, requiring minimal energy input. The research combined experimental work with advanced molecular simulations conducted on Australia’s National Computational Infrastructure supercomputer, providing insights into the molecular interactions that enable the material’s superior performance. While still in the fundamental research phase, the technology shows promise as a scalable, low-energy solution for providing potable water in humid but water-scarce regions worldwide. Industry partners
nanomaterialsgraphene-oxidewater-harvestingclean-water-technologyaerogelhydrogen-bondingsustainable-materialsMIT scientists make hydrogel to pull water from air with zero power
MIT scientists have developed an innovative, origami-inspired hydrogel device that passively harvests clean drinking water from atmospheric moisture without requiring any external power source. The black, window-sized panel, made from a water-absorbent hydrogel enclosed in a glass chamber with a cooling polymer coating, exploits natural temperature fluctuations between night and day to absorb and then release water vapor. Tested in California’s Death Valley, one of the driest places on Earth, the prototype successfully extracted up to 160 milliliters of water daily even at low humidity levels (around 21%), demonstrating its effectiveness in arid environments. The hydrogel’s unique composition, stabilized with glycerol to prevent salt leakage, ensures the collected water remains safe to drink without the need for additional filtration. Its dome-shaped, bubble wrap–like surface design increases absorption efficiency by maximizing surface area. Unlike previous technologies that depend on electricity, batteries, or solar panels, this device operates autonomously, making it particularly suitable for resource-limited
materialshydrogelwater-harvestingclean-water-technologyenergy-free-devicesustainable-materialsMIT-innovationUS scientists build ‘fog guitar’ that strums water from thin air
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed an innovative atmospheric water harvesting device called the "fog guitar," which significantly improves upon traditional fog collection methods. Traditional fog nets, used for centuries, suffer from design limitations such as clogging due to small holes and inefficiency from large holes letting droplets pass through. In 2018, the team introduced the "fog harp," which replaced horizontal wires with vertical fibers to increase water collection efficiency by two to seven times. However, the fog harp faced a critical issue: under heavy fog, surface tension caused the vertical fibers to tangle and clump, reducing performance when water was most abundant. To solve this, the researchers created hybrid "fog guitar" designs that reintroduced a limited number of horizontal supports—akin to guitar frets—to prevent fiber tangling while avoiding clogging. By testing seven variations with different numbers of these "frets," they identified an optimal configuration that balances the prevention of tangling and clogging, maximizing water collection efficiency even in dense fog.
energywater-harvestingsustainable-technologyatmospheric-water-collectionfog-harvestinghybrid-designVirginia-Tech-researchScientists accidentally create material that harvests water from air
materialsnanomaterialswater-harvestingcapillary-condensationenvironmental-technologysustainable-materialsenergy-efficient-solutionsWhat’s Required To Install A Source Hydropanel?
energywater-harvestingclean-technologysustainable-livingoff-grid-solutionshydropanelsinstallation-process