Smart sponge smaller than a paper clip pulls water from air with 94% efficiency
The device functioned reliably across humidity levels of 30 to 90 percent and temperatures between 41 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers from Australia and China have designed a smart spongy device capable of capturing water from thin air and releasing it in a cup using the sun’s energy, with impressive performance even in dry climates where most other systems fail.
The innovative water-from-air device uses a sponge-like material made from modified balsa wood – the lightest and softest commercial hardwood timber – enhanced with salts, nanoparticles, and a carbon nanotube layer.
Derek Hao, PhD, a materials scientists and environmental engineer at Australia’s RMIT University, and one of the study’s co-authors, revealed that the material absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, and using solar energy, releases the collected water directly into a cup.
The device achieved an impressive water collection efficiency of up to 94 percent in outdoor testing. It additionally remained effective across a broad range of environmental conditions, including humidity levels ranging from 30 to 90 percent, and temperatures between 41 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
This, according to the senior researcher, further highlights its potential for use in off-grid and disaster-stricken areas.