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Continuous Freshwater Collection in Arid Regions via Radiative Cooling and Solar-Driven Dual-Mode Atmospheric Water
Jiangbo Wu1, Tao Ma1, Xiaoze Du1,2
1School of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 23, 2026
Summary
A novel dual-mode atmospheric water harvester offers continuous freshwater production in arid regions. It combines radiative cooling at night and solar adsorption during the day for efficient water collection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Engineering
Background:
- The global freshwater crisis is exacerbated in arid desert regions.
- Conventional atmospheric water harvesting methods suffer from low efficiency and intermittent operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a portable, dual-mode atmospheric water harvester for continuous freshwater production.
- To overcome limitations of existing water harvesting technologies in challenging environments.
Main Methods:
- Integration of radiative cooling and solar-driven adsorption technologies.
- Utilizing a surface with heterogeneous wettability for enhanced water collection and transport.
- Dual-mode operation for day and night water harvesting cycles.
Main Results:
- Night mode achieved a maximum water collection rate of 0.388 g·cm-2·day-1 using radiative cooling.
- Day mode achieved a maximum water collection rate of 1.61 g-1·g-1·day-1 via solar adsorption.
- Maximum daily water output reached 7.79 g·day-1 per device cycle.
Conclusions:
- The proposed dual-mode harvester provides an efficient and continuous solution for freshwater generation.
- Synergistic integration of technologies enhances water harvesting capabilities in desert environments.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for addressing water scarcity challenges.
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