Tailoring metal-organic frameworks to 3D print green water harvesting units that do not require electricity input (3D-HarvesterMOFs)

Current atmospheric water (AW) harvesting technologies, primarily designed for arid conditions, only permit one harvesting cycle daily without electricity.

We intend to pioneer the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), tailored through advancements in surface chemistry, structural design, and up-scalable, eco-friendly synthesis processes to efficiently capture and release water from air at a wide range of ambient conditions at multiple harvesting cycles per day.

We will develop 3D printing (3DP) technologies for mechanically and chemically stable MOF devices with hierarchical porous structures, retaining the properties of the powder MOFs and optimizing sorption kinetics and mass transfer.

The ultimate goal is to form the basis for sustainable materials that can utilize AW vapor for producing potable water and irrigation supplies, at varying atmospheric conditions, relevant for a broad range of locations around the globe, including those in the Northern Hemisphere, using sunlight as the only energy source.

The implications of our work extend beyond providing solutions to the challenges posed by climate change, natural disasters, and conflicts that compromise critical water infrastructure.

It also holds potential for self-sustaining residential and community development, direct greenhouse gas capture, and broader applications in 3DP of porous materials for drug delivery, water, and air purification systems.