RMIT and Zhejiang A&F unveil solar sponge to pull water from air

Engineers from RMIT University and five Chinese institutions developed a sponge-like device that used solar energy to harvest water from air. The device functioned across 30–90% humidity and 5–55 °C temperatures. It used modified balsa wood combined with lithium chloride, iron oxide nanoparticles, and a carbon nanotube layer. Artificial intelligence supported optimization under varying conditions. The device absorbed up to 2.5 ml water per gram and released most of it within 10 hours, achieving 94% daily efficiency. It remained effective at 30% humidity and after −20 °C storage. Each cube weighed 0.8 g and released water into a cup through a solar-powered mechanism. The system retained performance over 10 cycles with less than 12% loss. It was designed for low-cost, scalable deployment using solar energy, with pilot-scale industry partnerships underway for modular water-harvesting applications in disaster-hit or off-grid areas.