Atmospheric Water Collection and Unidirectional Transport Fabric System Based On Asymmetric Wettability Gradient and...

Addressing global water scarcity requires sustainable atmospheric water harvesting solutions, yet existing approaches face challenges in simultaneously achieving high water capture efficiency, rapid directional transport, and effective moisture retention. This study presents a composite textile system integrating atmospheric water harvesting and unidirectional fluid transport capabilities through an industrially scalable weaving technology. By engineering asymmetric wettability patterns via structural fabric design, we developed two synergistic components: a surface asymmetric wettability patterned fabric (SAWPF) for atmospheric moisture capture and a Janus unidirectional water transport fabric (JUWTF) with vertical wettability gradients for directional liquid management. The SAWPF demonstrates exceptional harvesting efficiency (3898.98 mg·6 h^-1·cm^-2), representing a 51.8% enhancement over pristine fabrics. Complementary JUWTF functionality achieves rapid droplet transport (4 s transit time) with sustained unidirectional performance (cumulative unidirectional transmission R index >1200%), effectively mitigating water evaporation losses. System validation through pea seedling cultivation trials revealed significant improvements in germination rates and growth velocity compared to the control groups, while textile-skin interface experiments demonstrated superior moisture-wicking functionality for wearable applications. This integrated approach combining scalable manufacturing with fluid control mechanisms establishes a transformative platform for developing sustainable water management systems particularly promising for precision agriculture in arid regions and next-generation functional textiles.