1
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Kanooni A, Kohan MR. Fog water harvesting with cylindrical brush. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19679. [PMID: 39181921 PMCID: PMC11344784 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70637-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, an efficient fog collector-type 1 and 2 cylindrical brush-has been introduced and its harvesting performance compared to other conventional collectors under field and laboratory conditions. Under field conditions, type 1 cylindrical brush with Raschel and aluminum mesh was installed in the inlet of the humidity front of the Caspian Sea to Ardabil plain in Abi-beyglu in the northwest of Iran. The results of the analysis of the collected water revealed that type 1 cylindrical brush collected 9.3% and aluminum mesh collected 4.3% more water than Raschel mesh. Under laboratory conditions, by applying different fog speeds, the performance of three conventional collectors and two proposed cylindrical brush were determined. The results indicated that type 2 cylindrical brush had the highest efficiency compared to others, and due to the lack of clogging, its efficiency did not diminish over time. Upon increasing the speed of the output fog, the amount of collected water and accordingly the efficiency of the collectors increased. Type 2 cylindrical brush showed the highest increase in efficiency at high fog speeds. Its maximum value reached about 50%, while the maximum efficiency of Raschel collector was equal to 28%. In general, it can be stated that cylindrical brush introduced in this study, in addition to the high performance of fog harvesting and the high efficiency of water collection, has a high resistance against strong winds. Therefore, it can be a suitable collector for water harvesting in foggy areas without any implementation problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Kanooni
- Department of Water Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Kohan
- Department of Water Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
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2
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Chen M, Sun W, Liu H, Luo Q, Wang Y, Huan J, Hou Y, Zheng Y. Synergistically Utilizing a Liquid Bridge and Interconnected Porous Superhydrophilic Structures to Achieve a One-Step Fog Collection Mode. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403260. [PMID: 39032136 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Conventional fog collection efficiency is subject to the inherent inefficiencies of its three constituent steps: fog capture, coalescence, and transportation. This study presents a liquid bridge synergistic fog collection system (LSFCS) by synergistically utilizing a liquid bridge and interconnected porous superhydrophilic structures (IPHS). The results indicate that the introduction of liquid bridge not only greatly accelerates water droplet transportation, but also facilitates the IPHS in maintaining rough structures that realize stable and efficient fog capture. During fog collection, the lower section of the IPHS is covered by a water layer, however due to the effect of the liquid bridge, the upper section protrudes out, while covered by a connective thin water film that does not obscure the microstructures of the upper section. Under these conditions, a one-step fog collection mode is realized. Once captured by the IPHS, fog droplets immediately coalesce with the water film, and are simultaneously transported into a container under the effect of the liquid bridge. The LSFCS achieves a collection efficiency of 6.5 kg m-2 h-1, 2.3 times that of a system without a liquid bridge. This study offers insight on improving fog collection efficiency, and holds promise for condensation water collection or droplet manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingshuo Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Wei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Yining Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Jinmu Huan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Yongping Hou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Yongmei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
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3
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Shahrokhian A, Chan FK, Feng J, Gazzola M, King H. Geometry for low-inertia aerosol capture: Lessons from fog-basking beetles. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae077. [PMID: 38426122 PMCID: PMC10903646 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Water in the form of windborne fog droplets supports life in many coastal arid regions, where natural selection has driven nontrivial physical adaptation toward its separation and collection. For two species of Namib desert beetle whose body geometry makes for a poor filter, subtle modifications in shape and texture have been previously associated with improved performance by facilitating water drainage from its collecting surface. However, little is known about the relevance of these modifications to the flow physics that underlies droplets' impaction in the first place. We find, through coupled experiments and simulations, that such alterations can produce large relative gains in water collection by encouraging droplets to "slip" toward targets at the millimetric scale, and by disrupting boundary and lubrication layer effects at the microscopic scale. Our results offer a lesson in biological fog collection and design principles for controlling particle separation beyond the specific case of fog-basking beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Shahrokhian
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44303, USA
| | - Fan Kiat Chan
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jiansheng Feng
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44303, USA
| | - Mattia Gazzola
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hunter King
- Physics, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
- Center for Computational and Comparative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
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4
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Liu Y, Aray H, Lan H. Characterization of leaf trichomes and their influence on surface wettability of Salsola ferganica, an annual halophyte in the desert. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e13905. [PMID: 37005220 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Many organisms use functional surfaces to collect water from the atmosphere. Salsola ferganica Drob. is one of the most abundant plants in desert regions and thrives in extreme environments with multiple but limited water resources, including dew and fog; however, its mechanisms of water harvesting remain unclear. We investigated trichome structural characteristics and their influence on the surface wettability of S. ferganica leaves using a variety of approaches (scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, immunolabelling staining, X-ray diffractometry, and infrared spectroscopy). Microstructural observations revealed that the trichomes of S. ferganica presented a curved upper part, the 'spindle node'-like structure in the middle, and the micro-grooves structure in between; such unique structures may aid in capturing moisture from the air. The physicochemical characteristics of the trichome surface, including hydrophobic functional groups, hydrophilic pectins, and low crystallinity, may enhance the adhesion of water drops to trichomes. Furthermore, we discovered that the piliferous S. ferganica leaves were more effective in retaining water than the glabrous S. aralocaspica leaves, and the dense trichome layer exhibited a significantly unwettable surface (high contact angle with droplets), whereas the individual trichomes retained water effectively (more so under drought conditions). The combination of these two properties is consistent with the 'rose petal effect', which describes rough surfaces that are hydrophobic but exhibit high adhesion with water. These factors suggest that the evolutionary optimisation of water acquisition by coupling relevant microstructures with the physicochemical properties of trichomes enables S. ferganica to survive harsh conditions in the seedling stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Liu
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830017, China
| | - Hanat Aray
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830017, China
| | - Haiyan Lan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830017, China
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5
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Hakeem S, Ali Z, Saddique MAB, Merrium S, Arslan M, Habib-Ur-Rahman M. Leaf wettability and leaf angle affect air-moisture deposition in wheat for self-irrigation. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:115. [PMID: 36849909 PMCID: PMC9969695 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04123-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change and depleting water sources demand scarce natural water supplies like air moisture to be used as an irrigation water source. Wheat production is threatened by the climate variability and extremes climate events especially heat waves and drought. The present study focused to develop the wheat plant for self-irrigation through optimizing leaf architecture and surface properties for precise irrigation. METHODS Thirty-four genotypes were selected from 1796 genotypes with all combinations of leaf angle and leaf rolling. These genotypes were characterized for morpho-physiological traits and soil moisture content at stem-elongation and booting stages. Further, a core set of ten genotypes was evaluated for stem flow efficiency and leaf wettability. RESULTS Biplot, heat map, and correlation analysis indicated wide diversity and traits association. The environmental parameters indicated substantial amount of air moisture (> 60% relative humidity) at the critical wheat growth stages. Leaf angle showed negative association with leaf rolling, physiological and yield traits, adaxial and abaxial contact angle while leaf angle showed positive association with the stem flow water. The wettability and air moisture harvesting indicated that the genotypes (coded as 1, 7, and 18) having semi-erect to erect leaf angle, spiral rolling, and hydrophilic leaf surface (<90o) with contact angle hysteresis less than 10o had higher soil moisture content (6-8%) and moisture harvesting efficiency (3.5 ml). CONCLUSIONS These findings can provide the basis to develop self-irrigating, drought-tolerant wheat cultivars as an adaptation to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Hakeem
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Zulfiqar Ali
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan.
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Programs and Projects Department, Islamic Organization for Food Security, Mangilik Yel Ave. 55/21 AIFC, Unit 4, C4.2, Astana, Kazakhstan.
| | | | - Sabah Merrium
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Arslan
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Crop Science Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Crop Science Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Agronomy, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan.
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6
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Garcia-Gonzalez D, Corrales TP, Dacunzi M, Kappl M. Squeezing Drops: Force Measurements of the Cassie-to-Wenzel Transition. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:14666-14672. [PMID: 36410035 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Superhydrophobic surfaces have long been the center of attention of many researchers due to their unique liquid repellency and self-cleaning properties. However, these unique properties rely on the stability of the so-called Cassie state, which is a metastable state with air-filled microstructures. This state tends to transit to the stable Wenzel state, where the inside of the microstructures eventually wets. For potential industrial applications, it is therefore critical to maintain the Cassie state. We investigate the Cassie-to-Wenzel transition on superhydrophobic micropillar surfaces by squeezing a water drop between the surface and a transparent superhydrophobic force probe. The probe's transparency allows the use of top-view optics to monitor the area of the drop as it is squeezed against a micropillared surface. The impalement, or Cassie-to-Wenzel transition, is identified as a sharp decrease in force accompanied by an abrupt change in the drop's contact area. We compare the force measured by the sensor with the capillary pressure force calculated from the observed drop shape and find a good agreement between both quantities. We also study the force and pressure at impalement as a function of the pillar's slenderness ratio. Finally, we compare the impalement pressure with three literature predictions and find that our experimental values are consistently lower than the theoretical values. We find that a possible cause of this earlier Cassie-to-Wenzel transition may be the coalescence of the squeezed drop with microdroplets that nucleate around the base of the micropillars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Garcia-Gonzalez
- Physics of Fluids group, Max-Planck Center Twente for Complex Fluid Dynamics, Department of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AEEnschede, Netherlands
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128Mainz, Germany
| | - Tomas P Corrales
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128Mainz, Germany
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Avenida España 1680, 2390123Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Maria Dacunzi
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Kappl
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128Mainz, Germany
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7
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Foday Jr EH, Sesay T, Koroma EB, Kanneh AAGS, Chineche EB, Jalloh AY, Koroma JM. Biotemplate Replication of Novel Mangifera indica Leaf (MIL) for Atmospheric Water Harvesting: Intrinsic Surface Wettability and Collection Efficiency. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 7:biomimetics7040147. [PMID: 36278704 PMCID: PMC9589950 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7040147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Water shortage has become a global crisis that has posed and still poses a serious threat to the human race, especially in developing countries. Harvesting moisture from the atmosphere is a viable approach to easing the world water crisis due to its ubiquitous nature. Inspired by nature, biotemplate surfaces have been given considerable attention in recent years though these surfaces still suffer from intrinsic trade-offs making replication more challenging. In the design of artificial surfaces, maximizing their full potential and benefits as that of the natural surface is difficult. Here, we conveniently made use of Mangifera indica leaf (MIL) and its replicated surfaces (RMIL) to collect atmosphere water. This research provides a novel insight into the facile replication mechanism of a wettable surface made of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which has proven useful in collecting atmospheric water. This comparative study shows that biotemplate surfaces (RMIL) with hydrophobic characteristics outperform natural hydrophilic surfaces (DMIL and FMIL) in droplet termination and water collection abilities. Water collection efficiency from the Replicated Mangifera indica leaf (RMIL) surface was shown to be superior to that of the Dry Mangifera indica leaf (DMIL) and Fresh Mangifera indica leaf (FMIL) surfaces. Furthermore, the wettability of the DMIL, FMIL, and RMIL was thoroughly investigated, with the apices playing an important role in droplet roll-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Hingha Foday Jr
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
- Faculty of Education, Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Combema Road, Kenema City 00232, Sierra Leone
- Correspondence:
| | - Taiwo Sesay
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
| | - Emmanuel Bartholomew Koroma
- Faculty of Education, Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Combema Road, Kenema City 00232, Sierra Leone
- Department of Geography-Environment and Natural Resources Management, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Magburaka City 00232, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Alpha Yayah Jalloh
- School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China
| | - John Mambu Koroma
- Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
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8
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Study on the Effect of Processing Parameters on Residual Stresses of Injection Molded Micro-Pillar Array. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14163358. [PMID: 36015617 PMCID: PMC9413632 DOI: 10.3390/polym14163358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the main methods for fabricating microstructured surfaces, micro-injection molding has the advantages of short cycle time, high production efficiency, and the potential for batch manufacturing. However, non-negligible residual stresses inside the molded part could affect the replication quality, dimensions, and physical properties of the microstructure. Therefore, studying the effects of processing parameters on residual stresses is a necessary prerequisite to ensure the successful fabrication of microstructured parts. In this paper, an injection molding simulation model of micro-pillar arrays was developed using molecular dynamics software, and a series of injection molding experiments were conducted. It was found that increasing the mold temperature and melt temperature can reduce the thermal residual stresses and molecular orientation stresses, and effectively improve the uniformity of residual stress distribution. The increase in the packing pressure can make the shear field of flow more intense and increase the molecular orientation stresses, thus making the residual stresses more severe.
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9
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Merrium S, Ali Z, Tahir MHN, Habib-Ur-Rahman M, Hakeem S. Leaf rolling dynamics for atmospheric moisture harvesting in wheat plant as an adaptation to arid environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:48995-49006. [PMID: 35212894 PMCID: PMC9252964 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18936-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant species surviving in the arid regions have developed novel leaf features to harvest atmospheric water. Before the collected water evaporates, it is absorbed and transported for storage within the tissues and move toward the root zone through the unique chemistry of leaf structures. Deep insights into such features reveal that similarities can be found in the wheat plant. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the leaf rolling dynamics among wheat genotypes and their relationships with moisture harvesting and its movement on the leaf surface. For this purpose, genotypes were characterized for leaf rolling at three distinct growth stages (tillering, booting, and spike emergence). The contact angle of leaf surface dynamics (adaxial and abaxial), water budget, and morphophysiological traits of genotypes were measured. The results indicate that leaf rolling varies from inward to twisting type among genotypes and positively affected the water use efficiency and soil moisture difference at all growth stages under normal and drought conditions. Results of wetting property (hydrophilic < 90°) of the leaf surface were positively associated with the atmospheric water collection (4-7 ml). The lower values of contact angle hysteresis (12-19°) also support this mechanism. Thus, genotypes with leaf rolling dynamics (inward rolled and twisted) and surface wettability is an efficient fog harvesting system in wheat for interception and utilization of fog water in drought-prone areas. These results can be exploited to develop self-irrigated and drought-tolerant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Merrium
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
| | - Zulfiqar Ali
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | | | - Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Crop Science Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | - Sadia Hakeem
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
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10
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Foday E, Bai B. Mangifera indica Leaf (MIL) as a Novel Material in Atmospheric Water Collection. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:11809-11817. [PMID: 35449905 PMCID: PMC9016854 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c07133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Here, Mangifera indica leaves (MILs) have been used to collect atmospheric water for the first time. This novel material has been viewed by mankind as environmental waste and is mostly discarded or incinerated, causing environmental pollution. By turning waste into wealth, MILs have proven resourceful and can help ameliorate the water crisis, especially in tropical countries. The unprecedented water collection result is enough to describe MILs as an ideal material for atmospheric water collection when compared to other natural plants. Both the physical and chemical surface morphologies were extensively characterized. This comparative study shows that MIL surface droplet termination and hydrophilic nature differ from those of other materials, with the apex playing a key role in the roll-off of the droplet. The surface wettability and its interaction with the droplet are of keen interest in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward
Hingha Foday
- Key
Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid
Region of the Ministry of Education, Changan
University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Department
of Environmental Engineering, School of Water and Environment, Changan University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province 710054, P.R China
- Faculty
of Education, Eastern Technical University
of Sierra Leone, Combema
Road, Kenema City 00232, Sierra Leone
| | - Bo Bai
- Key
Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid
Region of the Ministry of Education, Changan
University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Department
of Environmental Engineering, School of Water and Environment, Changan University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province 710054, P.R China
- Key
Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau
Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
- Qinghai
Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Xining 810001, P.R. China
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11
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Roth-Nebelsick A. How much biology is in the product? Role and relevance of biological evolution and function for bio-inspired design. Theory Biosci 2022; 141:233-247. [PMID: 35344153 PMCID: PMC9474337 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-022-00367-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Bio-inspired design (BID) means the concept of transferring functional principles from biology to technology. The core idea driving BID-related work is that evolution has shaped functional attributes, which are termed “adaptations” in biology, to a high functional performance by relentless selective pressure. For current methods and tools, such as data bases, it is implicitly supposed that the considered biological models are adaptations and their functions already clarified. Often, however, the identification of adaptations and their functional features is a difficult task which is not yet accomplished for numerous biological structures, as happens to be the case also for various organismic features from which successful BID developments were derived. This appears to question the relevance of the much stressed importance of evolution for BID. While it is obviously possible to derive an attractive technical principle from an observed biological effect without knowing its original functionality, this kind of BID (“analog BID”) has no further ties to biology. In contrast, a BID based on an adaptation and its function (“homolog BID”) is deeply embedded in biology. It is suggested that a serious and honest clarification of the functional background of a biological structure is an essential first step in devising a BID project, to recognize possible problems and pitfalls as well as to evaluate the need for further biological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Roth-Nebelsick
- Department of Palaeontology, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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12
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Yue H, Zeng Q, Huang J, Guo Z, Liu W. Fog collection behavior of bionic surface and large fog collector: A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 300:102583. [PMID: 34954474 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Water shortages are currently becoming more and more serious due to complicated factors such as the development of the economy, environmental pollution, and climate deterioration. And it is the best solution to the problems faced by people in today's world to investigate the bionic structure of nature and explore effective methods for fog collection. Herein, we've illustrated the bionic structures of the Namib desert beetle, cactus spines, and spider silk, and we imitate and further modify the respective bionic structures, as well as construct multifunctional bionic structures to improve fog collection. In addition, we also expound the fog collection behavior of a large fog collector, and an excellent fog capture effect was achieved through studying the mesh structure, the surface modification of the mesh, and the construction of the fog collector. The advantages and limitations of fog collection by a harp fog collector were also explored. We hope that through this review, relevant researchers can have a deeper understanding of this field and thus promote the development of fog collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yue
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghong Zeng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinxia Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
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13
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Han X, Guo Z. Lubricant-Infused Three-Dimensional Frame Composed of a Micro/Nanospinous Ball Cluster Structure with Salient Durability and Superior Fog Harvesting Capacity. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:46192-46201. [PMID: 34542265 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c14276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Due to the limitation of the special wettability surface in the water collection field, the smooth surface injected by the lubricant has attracted wide attention. In this study, a simple two-step electrochemical reaction was used to successfully design a micro/nanospinous ball cluster structure on the surface of a frame. Subsequently, after low-surface-energy treatment and lubricant immersion, a lubricant-infused three-dimensional frame is prepared. The three-dimensional grid system of the frame and the micro/nanospinous ball cluster structure on the surface exert synergistic capillary force, which helps to maintain a stable lubricant-infused smooth surface. This interface system, which exhibits superior water collection efficiency, can achieve efficient droplet capture, coagulation, and removal. The prepared lubricant-infused frame also has remarkable corrosion resistance and anti-icing performance. After high-shear rate rotation and long-term storage, it still maintains a stable and smooth surface. The reported lubricant-infused three-dimensional frame has great potential in water condensation, droplet transport, and phase-to-heat transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xutong Han
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
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14
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Aerodynamics-assisted, efficient and scalable kirigami fog collectors. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5484. [PMID: 34531392 PMCID: PMC8445985 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25764-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To address the global water shortage crisis, one of the promising solutions is to collect freshwater from the environmental resources such as fog. However, the efficiency of conventional fog collectors remains low due to the viscous drag of fog-laden wind deflected around the collecting surface. Here, we show that the three-dimensional and centimetric kirigami structures can control the wind flow, forming quasi-stable counter-rotating vortices. The vortices regulate the trajectories of incoming fog clusters and eject extensive droplets to the substrate. As the characteristic structural length is increased to the size of vortices, we greatly reduce the dependence of fog collection on the structural delicacy. Together with gravity-directed gathering by the folds, the kirigami fog collector yields a collection efficiency of 16.1% at a low wind speed of 0.8 m/s and is robust against surface characteristics. The collection efficiency is maintained even on a 1 m2 collector in an outdoor setting. Water shortage not only occurs in arid regions, but also in humid area with little precipitation, despite abundant fog. Authors develop robust and scalable 3D centimetric kirigami structures to control wind flow and regulate the trajectories of incoming fog, yielding high fog collection efficiency.
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15
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Kowalski NG, Shi W, Kennedy BS, Boreyko JB. Optimizing Fog Harps. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:38826-38834. [PMID: 34342968 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c08995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
It has recently been demonstrated that harps harvest substantively more fog water than conventional mesh nets, but the optimal design for fog harps remains unknown. Here, we systematically vary key parameters of a scale-model fog harp, the wire material, wire pitch, and wire length, to find the optimal combination. We found stainless steel to not only be the best hydrophilic wire material but also nearly be as effective as Teflon-coated wires. The best choice for the wire pitch was coupled to the wire length, as the smallest pitch collected the most water for short harps but was hampered by tangling for taller harps. Accordingly, we use an elastocapillary wire tangling model to successfully predict the onset of tangling beyond a critical length for any given wire pitch. Combining what we learned, we achieved a water harvesting efficiency of 17% with an optimized stainless-steel harp, over three times higher than that of the current standard of a Raschel mesh. These results suggest that an optimal fog harp should feature high-tension, uncoated wires within a large aspect ratio frame to avoid tangling and promote efficient and reliable fog harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Kowalski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Weiwei Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Brook S Kennedy
- School of Architecture and Design, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Jonathan B Boreyko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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16
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Hakeem S, Ali Z, Saddique MAB, Habib-Ur-Rahman M, Trethowan R. Leaf prickle hairs and longitudinal grooves help wheat plants capture air moisture as a water-smart strategy for a changing climate. PLANTA 2021; 254:18. [PMID: 34196834 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03645-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The leaf features like trichome density, gradient grooves, and leaf wettability determine the efficiency to capture air moisture for self-irrigation in the wheat plant. Plants in water-scarce environments evolved to capture air moisture for their water needs either directly or indirectly. Structural features like cones, hairs, and grooves assist water capture. The morphology of crops such as wheat can promote self-irrigation under drought. To examine this further, 34 wheat genotypes were characterized for leaf traits in near optimal conditions in the field using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. An association was found between morphological and physiological traits and yield using simple correlation plots. A core set of nine genotypes was subsequently evaluated for moisture harvesting ability and leaf wettability. Results showed that variation among genotypes exists for fog harvesting ability attributed to structural leaf features. Physiological traits, especially photosynthesis and water use efficiency, were positively associated with yield, negatively correlated with soil moisture at booting, and positively correlated with soil moisture at anthesis. The genotypes with deep to medium leaf grooves and dense hairs on the edges and adaxial surfaces (genotypes 7 and 18) captured the most moisture. This was a function of higher water drop rolling efficiency resulting from lower contact angle hysteresis. These results can be exploited to develop more heat and drought-tolerant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Hakeem
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Zulfiqar Ali
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan.
| | | | - Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman
- Department of Agronomy, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Crop Science Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Richard Trethowan
- Plant Breeding Institute, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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17
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Sharifvaghefi S, Kazerooni H. Fog harvesting: combination and comparison of different methods to maximize the collection efficiency. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-021-04518-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractFog harvesting is an unconventional source of water that can be used in some regions with water scarcity to overcome water shortages. The most commonly used collectors are meshes which have intrinsic limitations, the most important of which are clogging and aerodynamic deviation of droplets around the wires. Here, three techniques are compared and combined to overcome these limitations, i.e., replacing the mesh with an array of vertical wires, addition of a hydrophobic layer to the wires, and forcing the ionized droplets to move toward the wires by applying an electric field. The combination of these techniques was found to result in higher fog harvesting efficiency compared to each individual method with the highest impact from the addition of the electric field. The combined methods lead to a 60-fold increase in fog harvesting efficiency compared to meshes. The findings showed that when the fog droplets are forced in an electric field toward the wires, the shading coefficient for collectors can be increased to 1 from 0.55 (maximum for collectors without the electric field) without affecting the fog harvesting efficiency, allowing for lower construction cost of the collectors. Addition of the electric field showed two distinctive promotional effects. First, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency and second, reducing the size of droplets sliding down the wires by disturbing the three-phase contact line and reducing the contact angle hysteresis and the pinning force. Energy analysis shows that this technique can be 100 times more energy efficient compared to the conventional atmospheric water generators.
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18
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Nguyen LT, Bai Z, Zhu J, Gao C, Liu X, Wagaye BT, Li J, Zhang B, Guo J. Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes for Enhancing Efficiency in Fog Water Harvesting. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:3910-3920. [PMID: 33585770 PMCID: PMC7876836 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Novel types of vertical filament mesh (VFM) fog harvesters, 3D VFM fog harvesters, and multilayer 3D VFM fog harvesters were developed by mimicking the water-harvesting nature of desert beetles and the spider silks from fog. Four different types of polymer filaments with different hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties were used. The polymer filaments were modified with the polyurethane-sodium alginate (PU-SA) mixture solution, and a simple spraying method was used to form alternating 3D PU-SA microbumps. Polymer VFMs exhibited a higher fog-harvesting efficiency than the vertical metal meshes. Moreover, the hydrophobic VFM was more efficient in fog harvesting than the hydrophilic VFM. Notably, the fog-harvesting efficiency of all VFMs increased by 30-80% after spraying with the mixed PU-SA solution to form a 3D geometric surface structure (3D PU-SA microbumps), which mimicked the desert beetle back surface. This modification caused the fog-harvesting efficiency of PTFE 3D VFM to be thrice higher than that of Fe VFM. This increase was attributed to the improved synergistic effects of fog capturing, droplet growing, and droplet shedding. The multilayer VFMs were more efficient in fog harvesting than the single-layer VFMs because of a larger droplet capture area. The fog-harvesting efficiency of two-layer and four-layer polymer VFMs was approximately 35% and about 45% higher than that of the single-layer polymer VFMs, respectively. The four-layer PTFE 3D VFM with the type B PU-SA bump surface (bump/PU-SA) had the highest efficiency of 287.6 mL/m2/h. Besides the high fog-harvesting efficiency, the proposed polymer VFMs are highly stable, cost-effective, rust-free, and easy to install in practical applications. These advantages are ascribed to the elasticity of the polymer filaments. This work provides new ideas and methods for developing high-performance fog harvesters such as the 3D VFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc The Nguyen
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
- Faculty
of Garment Technology and Fashion Design, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, Hai Duong 170000, Vietnam
| | - Zhiqing Bai
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jingjing Zhu
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Can Gao
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Bewuket T. Wagaye
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jiecong Li
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Jiansheng Guo
- Key
Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education,
College of Textiles, Donghua University, 2999 North Remin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
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19
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Bhushan B. Design of water harvesting towers and projections for water collection from fog and condensation. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20190440. [PMID: 32008447 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Fresh water sustains human life and is vital for human health. It is estimated that about 800 million people worldwide lack basic access to drinking water. About 2.2 billion people (nearly one-third of the global population) do not have access to a safe water supply, free of contamination. Also, over 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress. Current supply of fresh water needs to be supplemented to meet future needs. Living nature has evolved species which can survive in the most arid regions of the world by water collection from fog and condensation in the night. Before the collected water evaporates, species have mechanisms to transport water for storage or consumption. These species possess unique chemistry and structures on or within the body for collection and transport of water. In this paper, an overview of arid desert conditions, water sources and plants and animals, lessons from nature for water harvesting, and water harvesting data from fog and condensation are presented. Consumer, emergency and defence applications are discussed and various designs of water harvesting towers and projections for water collection are presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology (part 3)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Bhushan
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
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20
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Gurera D, Bhushan B. Passive water harvesting by desert plants and animals: lessons from nature. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20190444. [PMID: 32008451 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fresh water sustains human life and is vital for human health. For some of the poorest countries, 1 in 10 people do not have access to safe and easily accessible water sources. Water consumption by man continues to grow with an increasing population. The current supply of fresh water needs to be supplemented to meet future needs. Living nature provides many lessons for water harvesting. It has evolved species which can survive in the most arid regions of the world by passively collecting water from fog and condensation of water vapour in the night. Before the collected water evaporates, species have mechanisms to transport water for storage or consumption. These species possess unique chemistry and structures on or within the body for collection and transport of water. Among the high diversity of species surviving in deserts, only a handful of species have been studied. Based on lessons from nature, bioinspired water harvesters can be designed. In this paper, an overview of various desert plants and animals is given and known water harvesting mechanisms of some are presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology (part 3)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dev Gurera
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 West 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 West 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
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21
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Azeem M, Guérin A, Dumais T, Caminos L, Goldstein RE, Pesci AI, de Dios Rivera J, Torres MJ, Wiener J, Campos JL, Dumais J. Optimal Design of Multilayer Fog Collectors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:7736-7743. [PMID: 31945290 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b19727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The growing concerns over desertification have spurred research into technologies aimed at acquiring water from nontraditional sources such as dew, fog, and water vapor. Some of the most promising developments have focused on improving designs to collect water from fog. However, the absence of a shared framework to predict, measure, and compare the water collection efficiencies of new prototypes is becoming a major obstacle to progress in the field. We address this problem by providing a general theory to design efficient fog collectors as well as a concrete experimental protocol to furnish our theory with all the necessary parameters to quantify the effective water collection efficiency. We show in particular that multilayer collectors are required for high fog collection efficiency and that all efficient designs are found within a narrow range of mesh porosity. We support our conclusions with measurements on simple multilayer harp collectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musaddaq Azeem
- Faculty of Textile Engineering, Department of Material Engineering , Technical University of Liberec , Studentská 1402/2 , 461 17 Liberec 1 , Czech Republic
| | - Adrien Guérin
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences , Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Av. Padre Hurtado 750 , Viña del Mar 2562340 , Chile
| | - Thomas Dumais
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences , Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Av. Padre Hurtado 750 , Viña del Mar 2562340 , Chile
| | - Luis Caminos
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences , Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Av. Padre Hurtado 750 , Viña del Mar 2562340 , Chile
| | - Raymond E Goldstein
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics , University of Cambridge , Wilberforce Road , Cambridge CB3 0WA , U.K
| | - Adriana I Pesci
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics , University of Cambridge , Wilberforce Road , Cambridge CB3 0WA , U.K
| | - Juan de Dios Rivera
- Departamento de Ingenierı́a Mecánica y Metalúrgica , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860 , Macul 7820436 , Santiago , Chile
| | - María Josefina Torres
- Escuela de Ingenierı́a Mecánica , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaı́so , Av. Los Carrera , Quilpué 2430000 , Chile
| | - Jakub Wiener
- Faculty of Textile Engineering, Department of Material Engineering , Technical University of Liberec , Studentská 1402/2 , 461 17 Liberec 1 , Czech Republic
| | - José Luis Campos
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences , Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Av. Padre Hurtado 750 , Viña del Mar 2562340 , Chile
| | - Jacques Dumais
- Faculty of Engineering and Sciences , Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez , Av. Padre Hurtado 750 , Viña del Mar 2562340 , Chile
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22
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Guo W, Chen B, Do VL, ten Brink GH, Kooi BJ, Svetovoy VB, Palasantzas G. Effect of Airborne Hydrocarbons on the Wettability of Phase Change Nanoparticle Decorated Surfaces. ACS NANO 2019; 13:13430-13438. [PMID: 31625718 PMCID: PMC6887839 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b06909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We present here a detailed study of the wettability of surfaces nanostructured with amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles (NPs) derived from the phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST). Particular attention was devoted to the effect of airborne surface hydrocarbons on surface wetting. Our analysis illustrates that a reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic wettability switch is revealed by combined ultraviolet-ozone (UV-O3) treatments and exposure to hydrocarbon atmospheres. Indeed, the as-prepared surfaces exhibited a hydrophilic state after thermal annealing or UV-O3 treatment which can partially remove hydrocarbon contaminants, while a hydrophobic state was realized after exposure to hydrocarbon atmosphere. Using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy for the specially designed GST NP decorated graphene substrates, a network of hydrocarbon connecting GST NPs was observed. Our findings indicate that airborne hydrocarbons can significantly enhance the hydrophobicity of nanostructured surfaces. Finally, the experiments reveal that previously defined hydrophilic materials can be used for the design of hydrophobic surfaces even if the meniscus is highly adhered to a solid surface, which is in agreement with our qualitative model involving the contribution of the nanomeniscus formed between the substrate and a decorating NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiteng Guo
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bin Chen
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Van Lam Do
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert H. ten Brink
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J. Kooi
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vitaly B. Svetovoy
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- A.
N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciencies, Leninsky prospect 31 bld. 4, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - George Palasantzas
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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23
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Wen C, Guo H, Bai H, Xu T, Liu M, Yang J, Zhu Y, Zhao W, Zhang J, Cao M, Zhang L. Beetle-Inspired Hierarchical Antibacterial Interface for Reliable Fog Harvesting. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:34330-34337. [PMID: 31429271 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b11862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The microdroplets in fog flow have been considered as an important resource for supplying fresh drinking water. Most of the reported works of fog collection focus on the water-collecting ability rather than the environmental reliability of selected materials. In this work, a beetle-inspired hierarchical fog-collecting interface based on the antibacterial needle-array (ABN) and hydrophilic/hydrophobic cooperative structure is displayed. The hydrophilic ABN is coated with zwitterionic carboxybetaine (CB) brushes that endow the fog collector with a long-term cleaning in harsh environment. Due to its strong affinity to water molecules, the tilted needles with a CB coating can facilitate the capture of fog and the rapid delivery of condensed water driven by gravity. After being transported to the connected hydrophobic sheet, the collected droplets can be rapidly detached and stored in the container, achieving a high fog-harvesting rate. Furthermore, CB-patterned channels are integrated on the hydrophobic sheet for the pathway-controlled water delivery. The CB coating is able to efficiently resist bacterial adhesion and contamination during fog harvesting, protecting the device from microbiological corrosion. The current design provides a promising method to incorporate antibacterial ability into fog collectors, which offer great opportunity to develop water harvesters for real-world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiyu Wen
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Hongshuang Guo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Haoyu Bai
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , China
| | - Tong Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology , Inner Mongolia University of Technology , Huhhot 010051 , China
| | - Min Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Yingnan Zhu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Weiqiang Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Jiamin Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
| | - Moyuan Cao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE) , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300350 , China
- Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology , Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , China
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24
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Optimization of bioinspired conical surfaces for water collection from fog. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 551:26-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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25
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Bhushan B. Bioinspired water collection methods to supplement water supply. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2019; 377:20190119. [PMID: 31177952 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Fresh water sustains human life and is vital for human health. Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population and is projected to rise. For some of the poorest countries, 1 in 10 people do not have access to safe and easily accessible water sources. Water consumption by man continues to grow with increasing population. Furthermore, population growth and unsafe industrial practices, as well as climate change, have put strain on 'clean' water supply in many parts of the world, including the Americas. Current supply of fresh water needs to be supplemented to meet future needs. Living nature provides many lessons for water source. It has evolved species, which can survive in the most arid regions of the world by water collection from fog and condensation in the night. Before the collected water evaporates, species have mechanisms to transport water for storage or consumption. These species possess unique chemistry and structures on or within the body for collection and transport of water. In this paper, an overview of arid desert conditions and water collection from fog, and lessons from living nature for water collection are provided. Data on various bioinspired surfaces for water collection are also presented. Some bioinspired water purification approaches are presented. Next, consumer to military and emergency applications are discussed and water collection projections are presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology (part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Bhushan
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University , 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142 , USA
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Bintein PB, Lhuissier H, Mongruel A, Royon L, Beysens D. Grooves Accelerate Dew Shedding. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 122:098005. [PMID: 30932522 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.098005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Gravity-driven drainage of small volumes of condensates, such as natural dew, is a challenge because small drops usually remain pinned to inclined surfaces. We report that submillimetric grooves substantially reduce dew retention by modifying the repartition of liquid: Because of a long-range coalescence mechanism mediated by grooves imbibition, the growth and shedding of large drops are accelerated. Such findings can be applied to increase the passive harvesting of dew as well as to accelerate the drainage of other condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Brice Bintein
- University Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Henri Lhuissier
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IUSTI, 13453 Marseille, France
- Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anne Mongruel
- Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laurent Royon
- University Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Daniel Beysens
- Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI, PSL Research University, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
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Gurera D, Bhushan B. Designing bioinspired surfaces for water collection from fog. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2019; 377:20180269. [PMID: 30967063 PMCID: PMC6335284 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2018.0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A systematic study is presented on various water collectors, bioinspired by desert beetles, desert grass and cacti. Three water collecting mechanisms including heterogeneous wettability, grooved surfaces, and Laplace pressure gradient, were investigated on flat, cylindrical, conical surfaces, and conical array. It is found that higher water repellency in flat surfaces results in higher water collection rate and inclination angle (with respect to the vertical axis) has little effect. Surfaces with heterogeneous wettability have higher water collection rate than surfaces with homogeneous wettability. Both cylindrical and conical surfaces resulted in comparable water collection rate. However, only the cone transported the water droplets to its base. Heterogeneity, higher inclination and grooves increased the water collection rate. A cone has a higher collection rate per unit area than a flat surface with the same wettability. An array of cones has higher collection rate per unit area than a single cone, because droplets in a conical array coalesce, leading to higher frequency of droplets falling. Adding heterogeneity further increases the difference. Based on the findings, scaled-up designs of beetle-, grass- and cactus-inspired surfaces and nets are presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology'.
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Sartori P, Bonato L, Delfitto G, Pierno M, Mistura G, Semprebon C, Brinkmann M. Morphological Transitions of Water Channels Induced by Vertical Vibrations. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:12882-12888. [PMID: 30286294 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report the results of comprehensive experiments and numerical calculations of interfacial morphologies of water confined to the hydrophilic top face of rectangular posts subjected to vertical vibrations. In response to mechanical driving, an initially flat liquid channel is collected into a liquid bulge that forms in the center of the rectangular post if the acceleration exceeds a certain threshold. The bulge morphology persists after the driving is switched off, in agreement with the morphological bistability of static interfacial shapes on posts with large length-to-width ratios. In a narrow frequency band, the channel does not decay into a bulge at any acceleration amplitude, but displays irregular capillary waves and sloshing instead. On short posts, however, a liquid bulge can be dynamically sustained through vertical vibrations but quickly decays into a homogeneous channel after the external driving is stopped. To explain the dynamic bulging of the liquid interface, we propose an effective lifting force pulling on the drop's slowly moving center of mass in the presence of fast oscillation modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Sartori
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei" , Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 8 , I-35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Luca Bonato
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei" , Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 8 , I-35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Giorgio Delfitto
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei" , Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 8 , I-35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Matteo Pierno
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei" , Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 8 , I-35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Giampaolo Mistura
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei" , Università di Padova , Via Marzolo 8 , I-35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Ciro Semprebon
- Department of Physics , Durham University , DH1 3LE Durham , U.K
| | - Martin Brinkmann
- Geometry of Fluid Interfaces Group, Experimental Physics , Saarland University , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
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Comanns P. Passive water collection with the integument: mechanisms and their biomimetic potential. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/10/jeb153130. [PMID: 29789349 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.153130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Several mechanisms of water acquisition have evolved in animals living in arid habitats to cope with limited water supply. They enable access to water sources such as rain, dew, thermally facilitated condensation on the skin, fog, or moisture from a damp substrate. This Review describes how a significant number of animals - in excess of 39 species from 24 genera - have acquired the ability to passively collect water with their integument. This ability results from chemical and structural properties of the integument, which, in each species, facilitate one or more of six basic mechanisms: increased surface wettability, increased spreading area, transport of water over relatively large distances, accumulation and storage of collected water, condensation, and utilization of gravity. Details are described for each basic mechanism. The potential for bio-inspired improvement of technical applications has been demonstrated in many cases, in particular for several wetting phenomena, fog collection and passive, directional transport of liquids. Also considered here are potential applications in the fields of water supply, lubrication, heat exchangers, microfluidics and hygiene products. These present opportunities for innovations, not only in product functionality, but also for fabrication processes, where resources and environmental impact can be reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Comanns
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Biology II (Zoology), Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Fog-Harvesting Properties of Dryopteris marginata: Role of Interscalar Microchannels in Water-Channeling. Biomimetics (Basel) 2018; 3:biomimetics3020007. [PMID: 31105229 PMCID: PMC6352672 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics3020007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several flora and fauna species found in arid areas have adapted themselves to collect water by developing unique structures and to intake the collected moisture. Apart from the capture of the moisture and fog on the surface, water transport and collection both play an important part in fog-harvesting systems as it prevents the loss of captured water through evaporation and makes the surface available for the capture of water again. Here, we report the remarkable fog collection and water-channeling properties of Dryopteris marginata. The surface of D. marginata has developed an integrated system of multiscale channels so that the water spreads quickly and is transported via these channels very efficiently. These integrated multiscale channels have also been replicated using a facile soft lithography technique to prepare biomimetic surfaces and it has been proved that it is the surface architecture that plays a role in the water transport rather than the material’s properties (waxes present on the surface of the leaves). Based on our studies, we infer that the microlevel hierarchy of the structures make the surface hydrophilic and the multiscale channels allow the efficient passage and transport of water. The understanding of the efficient and well-directed water transport and collection in D. marginata is expected to provide valuable insights to design efficient surfaces for fog-harvesting applications.
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Shi W, Anderson MJ, Tulkoff JB, Kennedy BS, Boreyko JB. Fog Harvesting with Harps. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:11979-11986. [PMID: 29587482 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b17488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fog harvesting is a useful technique for obtaining fresh water in arid climates. The wire meshes currently utilized for fog harvesting suffer from dual constraints: coarse meshes cannot efficiently capture microscopic fog droplets, whereas fine meshes suffer from clogging issues. Here, we design and fabricate fog harvesters comprising an array of vertical wires, which we call "fog harps". Under controlled laboratory conditions, the fog-harvesting rates for fog harps with three different wire diameters were compared to conventional meshes of equivalent dimensions. As expected for the mesh structures, the mid-sized wires exhibited the largest fog collection rate, with a drop-off in performance for the fine or coarse meshes. In contrast, the fog-harvesting rate continually increased with decreasing wire diameter for the fog harps due to efficient droplet shedding that prevented clogging. This resulted in a 3-fold enhancement in the fog-harvesting rate for the harp design compared to an equivalent mesh.
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Kostal E, Stroj S, Kasemann S, Matylitsky V, Domke M. Fabrication of Biomimetic Fog-Collecting Superhydrophilic-Superhydrophobic Surface Micropatterns Using Femtosecond Lasers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:2933-2941. [PMID: 29364677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The exciting functionalities of natural superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces served as inspiration for a variety of biomimetic designs. In particular, the combination of both extreme wetting states to micropatterns opens up interesting applications, as the example of the fog-collecting Namib Desert beetle shows. In this paper, the beetle's elytra were mimicked by a novel three-step fabrication method to increase the fog-collection efficiency of glasses. In the first step, a double-hierarchical surface structure was generated on Pyrex wafers using femtosecond laser structuring, which amplified the intrinsic wetting property of the surface and made it superhydrophilic (water contact angle < 10°). In the second step, a Teflon-like polymer (CF2) n was deposited by a plasma process that turned the laser-structured surface superhydrophobic (water contact angle > 150°). In the last step, the Teflon-like coating was selectively removed by fs-laser ablation to uncover superhydrophilic spots below the superhydrophobic surface, following the example of the Namib Desert beetle's fog-collecting elytra. To investigate the influence on the fog-collection behavior, (super)hydrophilic, (super)hydrophobic, and low and high contrast wetting patterns were fabricated on glass wafers using selected combinations of these three processing steps and were exposed to fog in an artificial nebulizer setup. This experiment revealed that high-contrast wetting patterns collected the highest amount of fog and enhanced the fog-collection efficiency by nearly 60% compared to pristine Pyrex glass. The comparison of the fog-collection behavior of the six samples showed that the superior fog-collection efficiency of surface patterns with extreme wetting contrast is due to the combination of water attraction and water repellency: the superhydrophilic spots act as drop accumulation areas, whereas the surrounding superhydrophobic areas allow a fast water transportation caused by gravity. The presented method enables a fast and flexible surface functionalization of a broad range of materials including transparent substrates, which offers exciting possibilities for the design of biomedical and microfluidic devices.
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Gürsoy M, Harris M, Downing J, Barrientos-Palomo S, Carletto A, Yaprak A, Karaman M, Badyal J. Bioinspired fog capture and channel mechanism based on the arid climate plant Salsola crassa. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.05.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Azad MAK, Krause T, Danter L, Baars A, Koch K, Barthlott W. Fog Collection on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Fibers: Influence of Cross Section and Surface Structure. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:5555-5564. [PMID: 28260383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fog-collecting meshes show a great potential in ensuring the availability of a supply of sustainable freshwater in certain arid regions. In most cases, the meshes are made of hydrophilic smooth fibers. Based on the study of plant surfaces, we analyzed the fog collection using various polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers with different cross sections and surface structures with the aim of developing optimized biomimetic fog collectors. Water droplet movement and the onset of dripping from fiber samples were compared. Fibers with round, oval, and rectangular cross sections with round edges showed higher fog-collection performance than those with other cross sections. However, other parameters, for example, width, surface structure, wettability, and so forth, also influenced the performance. The directional delivery of the collected fog droplets by wavy/v-shaped microgrooves on the surface of the fibers enhances the formation of a water film and their fog collection. A numerical simulation of the water droplet spreading behavior strongly supports these findings. Therefore, our study suggests the use of fibers with a round cross section, a microgrooved surface, and an optimized width for an efficient fog collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A K Azad
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University , 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias Krause
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University , 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences , 46397 Bocholt, Germany
| | - Leon Danter
- Department of Biomimetics, Faculty of Nature and Technique, Bremen University of Applied Sciences , 28199 Bremen, Germany
| | - Albert Baars
- Department of Biomimetics, Faculty of Nature and Technique, Bremen University of Applied Sciences , 28199 Bremen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Koch
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences , 47533 Kleve, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Barthlott
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University , 53115 Bonn, Germany
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Fayemi PE, Wanieck K, Zollfrank C, Maranzana N, Aoussat A. Biomimetics: process, tools and practice. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2017; 12:011002. [PMID: 28114108 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/12/1/011002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetics applies principles and strategies abstracted from biological systems to engineering and technological design. With a huge potential for innovation, biomimetics could evolve into a key process in businesses. Yet challenges remain within the process of biomimetics, especially from the perspective of potential users. We work to clarify the understanding of the process of biomimetics. Therefore, we briefly summarize the terminology of biomimetics and bioinspiration. The implementation of biomimetics requires a stated process. Therefore, we present a model of the problem-driven process of biomimetics that can be used for problem-solving activity. The process of biomimetics can be facilitated by existing tools and creative methods. We mapped a set of tools to the biomimetic process model and set up assessment sheets to evaluate the theoretical and practical value of these tools. We analyzed the tools in interdisciplinary research workshops and present the characteristics of the tools. We also present the attempt of a utility tree which, once finalized, could be used to guide users through the process by choosing appropriate tools respective to their own expertize. The aim of this paper is to foster the dialogue and facilitate a closer collaboration within the field of biomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- P E Fayemi
- Arts & Métiers ParisTech-Innovation and Product Design Laboratory, 151 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France. Aim-Innovation, 155, rue Anatole France, F-92300 Levallois-Perret, France
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Barthlott W, Mail M, Bhushan B, Koch K. Plant Surfaces: Structures and Functions for Biomimetic Innovations. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2017; 9:23. [PMID: 30464998 PMCID: PMC6223843 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-016-0125-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
An overview of plant surface structures and their evolution is presented. It combines surface chemistry and architecture with their functions and refers to possible biomimetic applications. Within some 3.5 billion years biological species evolved highly complex multifunctional surfaces for interacting with their environments: some 10 million living prototypes (i.e., estimated number of existing plants and animals) for engineers. The complexity of the hierarchical structures and their functionality in biological organisms surpasses all abiotic natural surfaces: even superhydrophobicity is restricted in nature to living organisms and was probably a key evolutionary step with the invasion of terrestrial habitats some 350-450 million years ago in plants and insects. Special attention should be paid to the fact that global environmental change implies a dramatic loss of species and with it the biological role models. Plants, the dominating group of organisms on our planet, are sessile organisms with large multifunctional surfaces and thus exhibit particular intriguing features. Superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity are focal points in this work. We estimate that superhydrophobic plant leaves (e.g., grasses) comprise in total an area of around 250 million km2, which is about 50% of the total surface of our planet. A survey of structures and functions based on own examinations of almost 20,000 species is provided, for further references we refer to Barthlott et al. (Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 374: 20160191, 1). A basic difference exists between aquatic non-vascular and land-living vascular plants; the latter exhibit a particular intriguing surface chemistry and architecture. The diversity of features is described in detail according to their hierarchical structural order. The first underlying and essential feature is the polymer cuticle superimposed by epicuticular wax and the curvature of single cells up to complex multicellular structures. A descriptive terminology for this diversity is provided. Simplified, the functions of plant surface characteristics may be grouped into six categories: (1) mechanical properties, (2) influence on reflection and absorption of spectral radiation, (3) reduction of water loss or increase of water uptake, moisture harvesting, (4) adhesion and non-adhesion (lotus effect, insect trapping), (5) drag and turbulence increase, or (6) air retention under water for drag reduction or gas exchange (Salvinia effect). This list is far from complete. A short overview of the history of bionics and the impressive spectrum of existing and anticipated biomimetic applications are provided. The major challenge for engineers and materials scientists, the durability of the fragile nanocoatings, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm Barthlott
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Venusbergweg 22, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Mail
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Venusbergweg 22, 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES) – Horticultural Science, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics, The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142 USA
| | - Kerstin Koch
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Marie Curie-Straße 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany
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Barthlott W, Mail M, Bhushan B, Koch K. Plant Surfaces: Structures and Functions for Biomimetic Applications. SPRINGER HANDBOOK OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-54357-3_36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
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Zhang S, Huang J, Chen Z, Lai Y. Bioinspired Special Wettability Surfaces: From Fundamental Research to Water Harvesting Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2017; 13:1602992. [PMID: 27935211 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201602992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the pollution of water has become worse in many parts of the world, which causes a severe shortage of clean water and attracts widespread attention worldwide. Bioinspired from nature, i.e. spider silk, cactus, Namib desert beetle, Nepenthes alata, special wettability surfaces have attracted great interest from fundamental research to water-harvesting applications. Here, recently published literature about creatures possessing water-harvesting ability are reviewed, with a focus on the corresponding water-harvesting mechanisms of creatures in dry or arid regions, consisting of the theory of wetting and transporting. Then a detailed account of the innovative fabrication technologies and bionic water-harvesting materials with special wetting are summarized, i.e. bio-inspired artificial spider silk, bio-inspired artificial cactus-like structures, and bio-inspired artificial Namib desert beetle-like surfaces. Special attentions are paid to the discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies, as well as factors that affect the amount of water-harvesting. Finally, conclusions, future outlooks and the current challenges for future development of the water-harvesting technology are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songnan Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Jianying Huang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zhong Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yuekun Lai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
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Rajaram M, Heng X, Oza M, Luo C. Enhancement of fog-collection efficiency of a Raschel mesh using surface coatings and local geometric changes. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2016.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Rykaczewski K, Jordan JS, Linder R, Woods ET, Sun X, Kemme N, Manning KC, Cherry BR, Yarger JL, Majure LC. Microscale Mechanism of Age Dependent Wetting Properties of Prickly Pear Cacti (Opuntia). LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:9335-9341. [PMID: 27537082 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cacti thrive in xeric environments through specialized water storage and collection tactics such as a shallow, widespread root system that maximizes rainwater absorption and spines adapted for fog droplet collection. However, in many cacti, the epidermis, not the spines, dominates the exterior surface area. Yet, little attention has been dedicated to studying interactions of the cactus epidermis with water drops. Surprisingly, the epidermis of plants in the genus Opuntia, also known as prickly pear cacti, has water-repelling characteristics. In this work, we report that surface properties of cladodes of 25 taxa of Opuntia grown in an arid Sonoran climate switch from water-repelling to superwetting under water impact over the span of a single season. We show that the old cladode surfaces are not superhydrophilic, but have nearly vanishing receding contact angle. We study water drop interactions with, as well as nano/microscale topology and chemistry of, the new and old cladodes of two Opuntia species and use this information to uncover the microscopic mechanism underlying this phenomenon. We demonstrate that composition of extracted wax and its contact angle do not change significantly with time. Instead, we show that the reported age dependent wetting behavior primarily stems from pinning of the receding contact line along multilayer surface microcracks in the epicuticular wax that expose the underlying highly hydrophilic layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Rykaczewski
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Jacob S Jordan
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287-1604, United States
| | - Rubin Linder
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Erik T Woods
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Xiaoda Sun
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Nicholas Kemme
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Kenneth C Manning
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Brian R Cherry
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287-1604, United States
| | - Jeffery L Yarger
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287-1604, United States
| | - Lucas C Majure
- Department of Research, Conservation and Collections, Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, Arizona 85008, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287-4701, United States
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Brown PS, Bhushan B. Bioinspired materials for water supply and management: water collection, water purification and separation of water from oil. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2016; 374:rsta.2016.0135. [PMID: 27354732 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Access to a safe supply of water is a human right. However, with growing populations, global warming and contamination due to human activity, it is one that is increasingly under threat. It is hoped that nature can inspire the creation of materials to aid in the supply and management of water, from water collection and purification to water source clean-up and rehabilitation from oil contamination. Many species thrive in even the driest places, with some surviving on water harvested from fog. By studying these species, new materials can be developed to provide a source of fresh water from fog for communities across the globe. The vast majority of water on the Earth is in the oceans. However, current desalination processes are energy-intensive. Systems in our own bodies have evolved to transport water efficiently while blocking other molecules and ions. Inspiration can be taken from such to improve the efficiency of desalination and help purify water containing other contaminants. Finally, oil contamination of water from spills or the fracking technique can be a devastating environmental disaster. By studying how natural surfaces interact with liquids, new techniques can be developed to clean up oil spills and further protect our most precious resource.This article is part of the themed issue 'Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip S Brown
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
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42
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Malik FT, Clement RM, Gethin DT, Kiernan M, Goral T, Griffiths P, Beynon D, Parker AR. Hierarchical structures of cactus spines that aid in the directional movement of dew droplets. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2016; 374:20160110. [PMID: 27354735 PMCID: PMC4928504 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Three species of cactus whose spines act as dew harvesters were chosen for this study: Copiapoa cinerea var. haseltoniana, Mammillaria columbiana subsp. yucatanensis and Parodia mammulosa and compared with Ferocactus wislizenii whose spines do not perform as dew harvesters. Time-lapse snapshots of C. cinerea showed movement of dew droplets from spine tips to their base, even against gravity. Spines emanating from one of the areoles of C. cinerea were submerged in water laced with fluorescent nanoparticles and this particular areole with its spines and a small area of stem was removed and imaged. These images clearly showed that fluorescent water had moved into the stem of the plant. Lines of vascular bundles radiating inwards from the surface areoles (from where the spines emanate) to the core of the stem were detected using magnetic resonance imaging, with the exception of F. wislizenii that does not harvest dew on its spines. Spine microstructures were examined using SEM images and surface roughness measurements (Ra and Rz) taken of the spines of C. cinerea It was found that a roughness gradient created by tapered microgrooves existed that could potentially direct surface water from a spine tip to its base.This article is part of the themed issue 'Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science'.
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Affiliation(s)
- F T Malik
- The Institute of Life Science, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - R M Clement
- The Institute of Life Science, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - D T Gethin
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - M Kiernan
- Cyden, Technium Two, Kings Road, Swansea SA1 8PJ, UK
| | - T Goral
- Imaging and Analysis Centre, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD,, UK
| | - P Griffiths
- The Institute of Life Science, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - D Beynon
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - A R Parker
- Green Templeton College, Oxford University, 43 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HG, UK
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43
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Ji K, Zhang J, Chen J, Meng G, Ding Y, Dai Z. Centrifugation-Assisted Fog-Collecting Abilities of Metal-Foam Structures with Different Surface Wettabilities. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:10005-10013. [PMID: 27065476 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b11586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The collection of water from fog is a simple and sustainable means of obtaining freshwater for human and animal consumption. Herein, we address the use of metal foam in fog collection and present a novel fog-collecting device fabricated from copper foam. This device, which can also be used in other liquid-gas separation applications, is a 3D extension of biologically inspired 1D and 2D materials. The network structure of the 3D material effectively increased the contact area and interaction time of the skeleton structure and fog compared to those of traditional 2D fog-collecting materials. The main aspects investigated in this study were the influences of the inertial centrifugal force generated by rotating the metal-foam samples and the use of samples with different surface wettabilities on the fog-collecting performance. Superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic samples were found to have higher collection efficiencies at low and high rotational speeds, respectively, and a maximum efficiency of 86% was achieved for superhydrophobic copper foam (20 pores per inch) rotated at 1500 rpm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keju Ji
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
| | - Jia Chen
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
| | - Guiyun Meng
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
| | - Yafei Ding
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
| | - Zhendong Dai
- Institute of Bio-Inspired Structure and Surface Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing, 210016 China
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Azad MAK, Barthlott W, Koch K. Hierarchical Surface Architecture of Plants as an Inspiration for Biomimetic Fog Collectors. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:13172-13179. [PMID: 26561871 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Fog collectors can enable us to alleviate the water crisis in certain arid regions of the world. A continuous fog-collection cycle consisting of a persistent capture of fog droplets and their fast transport to the target is a prerequisite for developing an efficient fog collector. In regard to this topic, a biological superior design has been found in the hierarchical surface architecture of barley (Hordeum vulgare) awns. We demonstrate here the highly wettable (advancing contact angle 16° ± 2.7 and receding contact angle 9° ± 2.6) barbed (barb = conical structure) awn as a model to develop optimized fog collectors with a high fog-capturing capability, an effective water transport, and above all an efficient fog collection. We compare the fog-collection efficiency of the model sample with other plant samples naturally grown in foggy habitats that are supposed to be very efficient fog collectors. The model sample, consisting of dry hydrophilized awns (DH awns), is found to be about twice as efficient (fog-collection rate 563.7 ± 23.2 μg/cm(2) over 10 min) as any other samples investigated under controlled experimental conditions. Finally, a design based on the hierarchical surface architecture of the model sample is proposed for the development of optimized biomimetic fog collectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A K Azad
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn , Venusbergweg 22, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - W Barthlott
- Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn , Venusbergweg 22, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - K Koch
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences , Marie-Curie Straße 1, 47533 Kleve, Germany
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Tricinci O, Terencio T, Mazzolai B, Pugno N, Greco F, Mattoli V. 3D Micropatterned Surface Inspired by Salvinia molesta via Direct Laser Lithography. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:25560-7. [PMID: 26558410 PMCID: PMC4667276 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b07722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetic functional surfaces are attracting increasing attention for their relevant technological applications. Despite these efforts, inherent limitations of microfabrication techniques prevent the replication of complex hierarchical microstructures. Using a 3D laser lithography technique, we fabricated a 3D patterned surface bioinspired to Salvinia molesta leaves. The artificial hairs, with crownlike heads, were reproduced by scaling down (ca. 100 times smaller) the dimensions of natural features, so that microscale hairs with submicrometric resolution were attained. The micropatterned surface, in analogy with the natural model, shows interesting properties in terms of hydrophobicity and air retention when submerged by water, even if realized with a hydrophilic material. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated the capability to promote localized condensation of water droplets from moisture in the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Tricinci
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
- E-mail:
| | - Tercio Terencio
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
- Department of
Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Mazzolai
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Nicola
M. Pugno
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired & Graphene Nanomechanics, Department
of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Center for Materials
and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, via Sommarive 18, 38123 Povo, Italy
- School of Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Greco
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
- E-mail:
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
- E-mail:
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