Water is an important commodity of growing scarcity with increasing population growth and global climate change. Current technologies for water harvesting from ambient moisture are only possible below the dew point temperature and therefore require cooling. This work presents a novel material that is capable of harvesting ambient moisture above the dew point temperature. The material consists of a superhydrophilic, low water activity (LWA) material embedded within a superhydrophobic matrix. Moisture is attracted to the materials and as liquid form around the LWA materials, the water is repelled by the superhydrophobic matrix to the surface to drain as water droplets. Moisture harvesting can be sustained over period of 60 days and can be regenerated by mechanically squeezing the exist water built-up in the material. Water collected were analyzed to be safe for consumption.

Materials for moisture harvesting above dew point temperature

255th National Meeting (2018)

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