Device that absorbs water from the air to store energy

How do electrolyzers work?

In one test with a solar power source, five electrolyzers were working in parallel. The electrodes sit on either side of a water harvesting unit, a sponge-like material that absorbs water from the air but which also doubles up as an electrolyte reservoir.

How does a backpack-sized water Harvester work?

The device uses special materials that change temperature when stretched or compressed, allowing it to cool the air and condense water vapor with minimal energy use. Researchers have created a backpack-sized water harvester that uses special materials to pull drinking water from the air. (Representational image) Kateryna Artsybasheva/iStock

How does air conditioning work?

This innovative approach employs special materials that change temperature when stretched or compressed. These materials allow the device to cool the air and condense water vapor with minimal energy consumption.

Can a device harvest water from humid air?

Now, scientists have come up with a new prototype device that can harvest water from humid air, before splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen. What's more, it's capable of operating in areas where the humidity – the concentration of water vapor in the air – is as low as 4 percent.

How does a water harvesting unit work?

The electrodes sit on either side of a water harvesting unit, a sponge-like material that absorbs water from the air but which also doubles up as an electrolyte reservoir. Both electrodes are isolated from the air, which means hydrogen and oxygen can be collected as pure gases once the split has happened.

How does the MIT water Harvester work?

Rooftop tests at MIT confirmed that the device works in real-world conditions. The water harvester, built at MIT, uses MOFs synthesized at Berkeley to suck water from dry air. The harvester uses sunlight to heat the MOF, driving off the water vapor and condensing it for use. MIT photo by Hyunho Kim.