Innovative 3D-printed surfaces for efficient water harvesting from air

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop nature-inspired 3D surfaces for atmospheric water harvesting.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, cylindrical-shaped protrusions were produced utilizing a 3D printer to obtain a surface with a high surface area. Subsequently, an electrospraying technique was employed to coat the tips of these hydrophobic protrusions with hydrophilic nano-scale particles and fibers, utilizing polyamide 6 (PA6) or PA6/chitosan (CH) blends. In the next stage of the study, the impact of protrusion shape was investigated by fabricating surfaces with cylindrical, conical and tree-shaped protrusions. Following the production of 3D surfaces, PA6 was electrosprayed onto the protrusions to achieve varied wettability patterns on the 3D surface. Finally, the water collection rates and capacities of the surfaces were evaluated.

Findings

Water collection tests demonstrated that PA6-coated surfaces exhibited greater water collection capacity compared to untreated surfaces. Furthermore, the addition of CH enhanced the water collecting efficiency of the 3D surface. It was found that the shape of the protrusions significantly influenced water collection capacity. Particularly, cone-shaped protrusions exhibited the highest water collecting capability among the different shapes tested.

Originality/value

In this study, 3D printing and electrospraying techniques were combined to create 3D surfaces characterized by high surface area, along with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions to produce superior surfaces for atmospheric water harvesting.