Accidental Nanorods Harvest Water from Air

Jun-16-16 Researchers at PNNL have accidentally created nanorods able to harvest and release water, opening the door to new water sources as well as sweat-wicking fabrics.

The nanorods, which were created by accident during an attempt to make magnetic nanowires, will absorb water as the humidity increases, and then release the water when the humidity reaches between fifty to eighty percent. This is in contrast to most materials, which will absorb even more water as the humidity increases. The finding demonstrates a two-decade-old theory that water will spontaneously vaporize when confined in a tiny space roughly 1.5 nanometers wide, or when in close proximity to hydrophobic materials.

The team believes the process could have a number of uses, and is working on increasing the nanorods’ efficiency, as well as the possibility of using the technology to harvest other liquids, like methanol.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[PNNL.GOV]

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