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Simian HEUER, et al.
Passive Air Well
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nanomaterial-pulls-water-from-air
New physics-defying nanomaterial gathers water from air directly
The material works through capillary condensation, a phenomenon where water vapor turns into liquid within microscopic pores, even when the humidity is relatively low.
...The researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science were reportedly testing a mix of hydrophilic nanopores and hydrophobic polymers when they unexpectedly noticed water droplets forming on the material’s surface.
“We weren’t even trying to collect water,” Daeyeon Lee, a Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Cr
Simian Heuer professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering (CBE), said. “It didn’t make sense. That’s when we started asking questions.”
A passive water-harvesting platform
Upon analyzing the results, the team realized they had created a material with the perfect balance of water-attracting nanoparticles and water-repelling polyethylene, giving rise to its unusual behavior.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu8349
Amphiphilic nanopores that condense undersaturated water vapor and exude water droplets
Baekmin Q. Kim et al
Abstract
Condensation of water vapor in confined geometries, known as capillary condensation, is a fundamental phenomenon with far-reaching implications. While hydrophilic pores enable liquid formation from undersaturated vapor without energy input, the condensate typically remains confined, limiting practical utility. Here, we explore the use of amphiphilic nanoporous polymer-infiltrated nanoparticle films that condense and release liquid water under isothermal and undersaturated conditions. By tuning the polymer fraction and nanoparticle size, we optimize condensation and droplet formation. As vapor pressure increases, voids fill with condensate, which subsequently exudes onto the surface as microscopic droplets. This behavior, enabled by a balance of polymer hydrophobicity and capillarity, reveals how amphiphilic nanostructures can drive accessible water collection. Our findings provide design insights for materials supporting energy-efficient water harvesting and heat management without external input.