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Laser-Patterned Oxidized Steel Mesh with Dual Wettability for Efficient Atmospheric Water Harvesting.
Faezeh Omidali1, Saeid Azizian1, Beheshteh Sohrabi2
1Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Petroleum Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 65167, Iran.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|June 18, 2026
Summary
Researchers enhanced fog water collection using laser-patterned stainless steel mesh coated with stearyl alcohol. This eco-friendly surface modification significantly boosted water harvesting rates, offering a sustainable solution for fog collection.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Effective fog water harvesting is crucial for water-scarce regions.
- Surface properties significantly influence fog collection efficiency.
- Developing sustainable and fluorine-free hydrophobic agents is an ongoing challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a high-efficiency fog water harvesting surface.
- To investigate the impact of pulsed laser ablation and stearyl alcohol functionalization on stainless steel mesh.
- To optimize surface parameters for maximum water harvesting rate.
Main Methods:
- Stainless steel mesh surface modification using pulsed laser ablation.
- Functionalization with stearyl alcohol, an eco-friendly hydrophobic agent.
- Surface characterization via FESEM, AFM, EDS, and elemental mapping.
- Systematic investigation of laser patterning intervals, stearyl alcohol concentration, and immersion time.
Main Results:
- The optimized surface (m-L5) achieved a water harvesting rate (WHR) of 7.36 mg min⁻¹ cm⁻², approximately 2.5 times higher than pristine mesh.
- Surface morphology and chemical composition were confirmed using advanced characterization techniques.
- Horizontal surface orientation (0°) yielded superior fog collection efficiency compared to tilted angles (45°, 90°).
Conclusions:
- Sustainable surface engineering using laser ablation and stearyl alcohol is a promising strategy for enhancing fog water harvesting.
- The developed method offers an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and fluorine-free approach.
- Optimized surface modifications can significantly improve water harvesting efficiency for practical applications.
