New Solar-Powered Sponge Extracts Drinking Water From Thin Air
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📰 The quick summary: Engineers have developed a solar-powered sponge-like device that efficiently harvests water from air across various humidity levels, offering an accessible solution to water scarcity in remote regions.
📈 One key stat: The device absorbs 2 milliliters of water per gram at 90% humidity and releases nearly all water within 10 hours of sun exposure, achieving 94% daily water collection efficiency.
💬 One key quote: “Billions of people around the world lack access to drinkable water, and millions die from water-borne diseases every year,” said Hao, a materials scientist and environmental engineer in RMIT’s School of Science.
1️⃣ The big picture: Engineers from Australia and China have created a breakthrough water harvesting system that extracts moisture from air using just solar energy. The device features a modified balsa wood sponge that absorbs atmospheric water vapor and releases it when activated by sunlight. Unlike other technologies, this system works effectively in humidity levels as low as 30% and across temperatures from 5 to 55 degrees Celsius. The innovation offers an environmentally sustainable solution for accessing drinking water in areas where traditional water sources are limited or unavailable.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This solar-powered water harvester works across diverse environmental conditions, making it suitable for deployment in arid regions and emergency situations where clean water is scarce. The material components are widely available and biodegradable, keeping manufacturing costs affordable for widespread implementation. Its ability to function without electricity provides accessibility in remote areas without power infrastructure. The technology’s stable performance over multiple cycles indicates impressive durability and cost-effectiveness over time. By harnessing water directly from air using only renewable energy, this innovation offers a sustainable pathway to address global water security challenges.
3️⃣ What’s next: The team is now discussing potential industry partnerships to scale up production and deploy field testing. Future developments might include integrating solar panels with thermal energy storage for round-the-clock operation in areas with intermittent sunlight. Researchers also plan to develop advanced AI-supported platforms to screen new material combinations and optimize long-term performance.
Read the full story here: SciTechDaily – Scientists Develop New Solar Device That Squeezes Water From Air
