In September 2023, researchers published a breakthrough in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that involves creating drinkable water from thin air. The research involves a molecularly engineered hydrogel that uses sunlight energy to create clean water

The device consists of a thin air trap, a transparent condensation cover, and a molecularly engineered hydrogel device. The hydrogel releases water using sunlight energy. 

The device could one day be placed outside the homes of people who live in areas with excess heat and produce drinkable water with no additional effort

As explained by Tech Xplore, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in September 2023, revealing that they “reached a significant breakthrough in their efforts to create drinkable water out of thin air: a molecularly engineered ..

Water can evaporate at any temperature from 0–100°C, but the rate of evaporation depends on the temperature and humidity. For example, it takes about an hour for 1 liter of water to evaporate at its boiling point of 100°C

Other factors that affect evaporation include:

• Surface area: Water evaporates faster when it has a larger exposed surface area. 
• Purity: More pure water evaporates faster. 
• Humidity: Evaporation is faster in dry air. 
• Air circulation: The amount of water that evaporates overnight depends on air circulation. In cloudy, cold weather, it can take months for 1 liter of water to evaporate. In hot, dry summer, it can take 6–7 hours or less

A molecularly engineered hydrogel can create clean water using sunlight energy. The device consists of a thin air trap with a transparent condensation cover and a molecularly engineered hydrogel. The hydrogel can pull water out of the atmosphere and make it drinkable using solar energy

Hydrogels are a promising material platform for solar-driven water purification because of their ability to absorb, retain, and transport water. The design of hydrogel structures can also lower heat loss during the heat transfer process to improve the photothermal conversion efficiency. 

A team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin developed a method for water desalination that only needs natural levels of sunlight and an inexpensive hydrogel.

Hydrogels are promising platforms for solar-driven water evaporators because they have low thermal conductivity, which reduces heat loss at the air–water interface. Hydrogel-based solar evaporators (HSE) are also floatable, recyclable, and salt-resistant, which makes them energy efficient for water evaporation and large-scale production

Hydrogels have been used in a number of water treatment applications, including:

• Disinfection: Hydrogels can be used to disinfect waterborne pathogens, such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. 
• Water decontamination: Hydrogels can be used to adsorb pollutants such as arsenic, heavy metals, halogenated aromatics, nitrosoamines, nitrates, and phosphates. 
• Oil-water separation: Hydrogels can be used to separate oil-water mixtures and emulsions. Hydrogels are also promising soft materials for energy and environmental applications, including sustainable and off-grid water purification and harvesting.

Hydrogels have emerged as encouraging material platforms for solar-driven water purificationbecause of good water absorption, water retention and water transport. The rational design of hydrogel structures can lower the heat loss during heat transfer process to improve the photothermal conversion efficiency

Biomass-derived hybrid hydrogel evaporators are cost-effective and can achieve a high evaporation rate under one sun. They have the following features: 

• Water transport 
• Water activation 
• Anti-salt-fouling function 
• Low energy consumption 
• Sustainability 

One study uses konjac glucomannan, a naturally abundant biomass, and iron-based metal-organic framework-derived photothermal nanoparticles to build hybrid hydrogel evaporators. The total materials cost is $14.9 m−2. 

Another study combines carbonized cattail with AgNPs-deposited hydrogel to create an efficient solar interface evaporator. The carbonized cattail’s favorable light absorption makes it a promising material for solar water purification

As parts of the globe face the ongoing problem of water scarcity, a groundbreaking new device that turns hot air into drinking water could help alleviate the issue

The researchers successfully managed to pull water out of the atmosphere using solar energy in temperatures as low as 104 degrees, which is typical of summer weather in Texas and other parts of the world. Cities in the United States like Flint, Michigan, have faced the crisis of a lack of access to clean drinking water for quite some time. In Ethiopia, 60% of the population lacks basic access to clean water

In other words, a simple device can someday be placed outside the homes of people who live in areas with excess heat and produce drinkable water with no additional effort.

“With our new hydrogel, we’re not just pulling water out of thin air. We’re doing it extremely fast and without consuming too much energy,” said Guihua Yu, a materials science and engineering professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Texas Materials Institute.

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