A new innovation by engineers from Australia and China could provide lifesaving access to clean water in arid and disaster-stricken regions. The sponge-like device captures moisture from the air and releases it as potable water using sunlight.
In an inspiring leap forward in water technology, engineers from Australia and China have developed an innovative spongy device capable of capturing water from the atmosphere and releasing it as drinkable water using solar energy. This breakthrough stands to revolutionize water accessibility in regions where traditional methods fall short.
The novel device, created by a collaboration between researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne and five Chinese research institutions, operates effectively across a broad range of humidity levels and temperatures — from 30% to 90% relative humidity and between 5 to 55 degrees Celsius.
“Billions of people around the world lack access to drinkable water, and millions die from water-borne diseases every year,” Derek Hao, a materials scientist and environmental engineer in RMIT’s School of Science, said in a news release.
Utilizing the naturally spongy structure of refined balsa wood, the device captures moisture from the air. This moisture is stored and then released into a cup when exposed to sunlight.
The spongy material, infused with advanced components like lithium chloride, iron oxide nanoparticles and a carbon nanotube layer, has shown superior performance in lab conditions, absorbing 2 milliliters of water per gram of material at 90% relative humidity.
In practical outdoor tests, the device has proven its worth by capturing up to 2.5 milliliters of water per gram overnight and releasing most of it during the day, achieving a daily water collection efficiency of 94%.
“These results highlight its potential use in off-grid, solar-driven water harvesting systems,” added Junfeng Hou from Zhejiang A&F University.
The smart design not only capitalizes on balsa wood’s structural integrity and porosity but also considers scalability and affordability.
“The main component, balsa wood, is widely available, biodegradable and cheap, and the manufacturing process is not complex, which could enable mass production,” Hao added.
With potential applications ranging from emergency water supply in disaster-stricken regions to long-term water provision in arid areas, the device’s adaptability and resilience have broad implications. It retained its functionality even after being stored at -20 degrees Celsius for 20 days, showcasing excellent freeze resistance.
The researchers are already in discussions with industry partners to pilot large-scale production and deployment of the device. Future enhancements could include the integration of solar panels and thermal energy storage to allow continuous operation, as well as the development of automated control systems using IoT sensors to optimize water harvesting based on environmental conditions.
Source: RMIT University