"This paper really establishes that you can capture water at a very fast
rate," said Cho. "We can start to forecast how big of a system we would
need to produce a set amount of water. If I have one square meter, which
is around three feet by three feet, we can generate about a gallon of
water per day in Las Vegas, and up to three times more in humid
environments."
This technology and approach has been tested outdoors in Las Vegas, and
is effective down to 10% humidity. It directly captures water in a
liquid salt solution that is suitable for subsequent processing into
drinking water or energy production, enabling new capabilities for arid regions.
A key ingredient in the process is a hydrogel membrane "skin." The
inspiration for this material comes from nature -- specifically tree
frogs and air plants, which use a similar technique to transport water
from ambient air into a liquid for internal storage.
"We took that biological idea and tried to do it in our own way," he
said. "There are so many cool things happening in nature -- you just
have to look around, learn, and be inspired."
Additionally, the research demonstrates that atmospheric water
harvesting can be solar-powered. Thanks to the frequent sunlight
experienced in places such as the Las Vegas Valley -- which averages 300
sunny days a year sunlight can provide enough energy to reduce the
theoretical and eventual cost for generating water."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241025122821.htm
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