Designing next-generation all-weather and efficient atmospheric water harvesting powered by solar energy

Abstract

The water crisis has emerged as one of the most severe threats to global sustainable development. The atmosphere contains approximately 13 000 trillion liters of water and serves as an accessible natural water source everywhere. Extracting water from ubiquitous air using solar energy is recognized as a transformative route to addressing water shortages. However, low energy efficiency and poor water productivity are the most critical obstacles to realizing efficient atmospheric water harvesting (AWH). This perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding the water-energy nexus in order to propel AWH innovation by maximizing water production while minimizing energy consumption. We analyze the challenges of conventional AWH technologies and propose next-generation solar-powered hybrid AWH (HAWH) paradigms by integrating complementary AWH mechanisms with synergistic energy utilization. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrates the greater global energy-saving potential and broader weather adaptability of HAWH compared to conventional AWH. Finally, we outline the future challenges and directions of HAWH for all-weather and efficient water harvesting from air.