3D Bionic Water Harvesting System for Efficient Fog Capturing and Transporting

Abstract

AbstractFog harvest has emerged as a direct and efficient water harvesting technology to relieve the intense pressure of freshwater scarcity worldwide. With the vagaries of climate and increasing amount of energy consumption, high‐efficiency fog harvest devices focus on the fast water droplet capture and transportation are highly desired. In this study, a novel harp structure is developed using cross‐twisted copper filaments arranged in a spatial triangular pattern to enhance water droplet capture and transportation. Inspired by the natural differences in Laplace pressure observed in cactus and spider silks, this design accelerates the movement of water bridges. Besides, drawing on the fruit waxes on the surface of hogweed and blueberries, a paraffin wax coating is applied on the copper sheet frame to create a solid slip frame, improving the synergy between filament capture and frame transportation. The monolithic fog collector (MFC) thus achieves a significant increase in fog harvest efficiency and demonstrates excellent durability. Integration of the MFCs into a 3D high‐efficiency fog harvest system results in a harvest rate of 0.5027 g cm−2 min−1, showing promise for practical applications due to its durability, simplicity, and environmental friendliness.