The idea of turning the air around us into drinking water is a marvel on its own. And grabbing a sustainable amount of it from low-humidity environments has long been closer to science fiction than reality.

As a megadrought stresses the water supply throughout the Southwest, revolutionary research out of UNLV is answering this problem with a groundbreaking technology that pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidity. The research was published Oct. 22 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

UNLV mechanical engineering professor H. Jeremy Cho leads a team of researchers with a radically different approach to atmospheric water harvesting, or transforming water vapor in the air around us into a usable form. Existing atmospheric water harvesting approaches have low yields and diminishing returns below 30% humidity.

“This paper really establishes that you can capture water at a very fast rate,” said Cho. “We can start to forecast how big of a system we would need to produce a set amount of water. If I have one square meter, which is around three feet by three feet, we can generate about a gallon of water per day in Las Vegas, and up to three times more in humid environments.”

This technology and approach has been tested outdoors in Las Vegas, and is effective down to 10% humidity. It directly captures water in a liquid salt solution that is suitable for subsequent processing into drinking water or energy production, enabling new capabilities for arid regions.

A key ingredient in the process is a hydrogel membrane “skin.” The inspiration for this material comes from nature – specifically tree frogs and air plants, which use a similar technique to transport water from ambient air into a liquid for internal storage.

“We took that biological idea and tried to do it in our own way,” he said. “There are so many cool things happening in nature – you just have to look around, learn, and be inspired.”

Additionally, the research demonstrates that atmospheric water harvesting can be solar-powered. Thanks to the frequent sunlight experienced in places such as the Las Vegas Valley – which averages 300 sunny days a year sunlight can provide enough energy to reduce the theoretical and eventual cost for generating water.

“Our water resources are depleting and our planet’s climate is changing,” said Cho. “To reach sustainability, we have to change our habits. This whole idea seemed like science fiction, but this is possible, and we’re actually doing it.”

"This work represents a significant shift in atmospheric water harvesting, opening doors to continuous operation and new applications of water production," added Sameer Rao, a mechanical engineering professor and co-author from the University of Utah. "These innovations are especially critical for the desert Southwest and its sustainability efforts."

The research is already being put into practical use in the form of WAVR Technologies, Inc. Cho co-founded this UNLV startup, making devices capable of capturing water vapor from the air around us for commercial and individual uses.

WAVR is the premiere university business spinoff from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program aimed at bringing to market technologies that address regional isustainability and climate concerns. The effort is also supported in part by UNLV’s Office of Economic Development and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development Knowledge Fund program. 

Publication Details

“High-yield atmospheric water capture via bioinspired material segregation” was published on Oct. 22, 2024 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Authors come from UNLV, University of Michigan, and University of Utah. In addition to Cho, co-authors include Yiwei Gao, Areianna Eason, Santiago Ricoy, Addison Cobb, Ryan Phung, Air Kashani, Mario R. Mata, Aaron Sahm, Nathan Ortiz, and Sameer Rao.