{"title":"A dual-biomimetic surface with leaf-skeleton-based hierarchical structures for efficient atmospheric water harvesting","authors":"Qiyu Chen, Fabian Javier Medina, Qing Hao","doi":"10.1063/5.0235697","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) has been extensively researched as a sustainable solution to current freshwater scarcity. Various bioinspired AWH surfaces have been developed to enhance water-harvesting performance, yet challenges remain in optimizing their structures. In this work, we report a dual-biomimetic AWH surface that combines beetle-inspired heterogeneous wettability with leaf-skeleton-based hierarchical microstructures on a rigid substrate. An authentic leaf skeleton innovatively serves as the mask during photolithography complemented by O2-plasma treatment, enabling precise design of superhydrophilic SiO2 structures with a hierarchy of vein orders forming reticulate meshes on a hydrophobic Si substrate. This design facilitates enhanced water collection through intricate reticulate meshes and directional droplet transport along the abundant multi-order veins. Such AWH surface shows a water-harvesting efficiency of 172 mg cm−2 h−1, increasing up to 62% and 58% over the pristine SiO2/Si wafer and Si wafer, respectively. Additionally, the role of structure orientation in the open-surface droplet transport is explored while the AWH surface is vertically placed during the water-harvesting process. This work highlights the potential of using meticulous natural designs, like leaf skeletons, to improve AWH surfaces, with broad applications in compact devices, such as on-chip evaporative cooling and planar microfluidics manipulation.","PeriodicalId":8094,"journal":{"name":"Applied Physics Letters","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Applied Physics Letters","FirstCategoryId":"101","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0235697","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PHYSICS, APPLIED","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) has been extensively researched as a sustainable solution to current freshwater scarcity. Various bioinspired AWH surfaces have been developed to enhance water-harvesting performance, yet challenges remain in optimizing their structures. In this work, we report a dual-biomimetic AWH surface that combines beetle-inspired heterogeneous wettability with leaf-skeleton-based hierarchical microstructures on a rigid substrate. An authentic leaf skeleton innovatively serves as the mask during photolithography complemented by O2-plasma treatment, enabling precise design of superhydrophilic SiO2 structures with a hierarchy of vein orders forming reticulate meshes on a hydrophobic Si substrate. This design facilitates enhanced water collection through intricate reticulate meshes and directional droplet transport along the abundant multi-order veins. Such AWH surface shows a water-harvesting efficiency of 172 mg cm−2 h−1, increasing up to 62% and 58% over the pristine SiO2/Si wafer and Si wafer, respectively. Additionally, the role of structure orientation in the open-surface droplet transport is explored while the AWH surface is vertically placed during the water-harvesting process. This work highlights the potential of using meticulous natural designs, like leaf skeletons, to improve AWH surfaces, with broad applications in compact devices, such as on-chip evaporative cooling and planar microfluidics manipulation.
期刊介绍:
Applied Physics Letters (APL) features concise, up-to-date reports on significant new findings in applied physics. Emphasizing rapid dissemination of key data and new physical insights, APL offers prompt publication of new experimental and theoretical papers reporting applications of physics phenomena to all branches of science, engineering, and modern technology.
In addition to regular articles, the journal also publishes invited Fast Track, Perspectives, and in-depth Editorials which report on cutting-edge areas in applied physics.
APL Perspectives are forward-looking invited letters which highlight recent developments or discoveries. Emphasis is placed on very recent developments, potentially disruptive technologies, open questions and possible solutions. They also include a mini-roadmap detailing where the community should direct efforts in order for the phenomena to be viable for application and the challenges associated with meeting that performance threshold. Perspectives are characterized by personal viewpoints and opinions of recognized experts in the field.
Fast Track articles are invited original research articles that report results that are particularly novel and important or provide a significant advancement in an emerging field. Because of the urgency and scientific importance of the work, the peer review process is accelerated. If, during the review process, it becomes apparent that the paper does not meet the Fast Track criterion, it is returned to a normal track.