A new material called SHCP-10 has been developed that can absorb water from the air like a sponge and release it when exposed to sunlight. This innovative material could potentially provide people living in desert regions with access to clean drinking water. Currently, about one-third of the world’s population lives in areas with severe water scarcity, such as deserts. The World Meteorological Organization predicts that this number will continue to increase in the coming years. As a result, scientists are searching for new methods to obtain drinking water. According to Paul Schweng and Robert Woodward from the Institute of Material Chemistry at the University of Vienna, only three percent of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and much of it is inaccessible. However, the Earth’s atmosphere contains six times more water vapor than the volume of all the world’s rivers combined, making it a potentially abundant source of water.
Recently, researchers at the University of Texas developed a gel that can extract water from dry desert air. Now, scientists at the University of Vienna have introduced SHCP-10, a cost-effective, cross-linked polymer that can absorb water from the surrounding air and release it when exposed to sunlight. Under ideal conditions, one kilogram of SHCP-10 can absorb and release up to 0.8 liters of water in a single cycle, even in the driest desert conditions. This process is much more energy-efficient than conventional methods of condensing water directly from the air. The material can achieve a 75 percent absorption rate in just one hour, and multiple cycles can be completed each day.
This breakthrough could have significant implications for people living in water-scarce regions, particularly in deserts. With the ability to extract water from the air, SHCP-10 could provide a sustainable source of clean drinking water. The researchers hope that this innovative material will be further developed and eventually become widely available to those who need it most.
