Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engin ....Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engines inspired by nastic movements in plants to develop extremely efficient dehumidifiers and water harvesting machines. These polymer actuators can help address the auto-acceleration of climate change caused by the increasing use of air conditioners and provide cheap, clean water for remote communities.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL220100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,738,854.00
Summary
Light-Driven Manufacturing for (Re)Programmable Materials. This Laureate Fellowship aims to develop a suite of chemical reactions independently activated by specific colours of light for the precise synthesis of functional macromolecules and the fabrication of (re)programmable polymeric materials. The outcome of this Laureate will be the direct production of advanced 3D printed objects with tuneable properties and functions by exploiting different wavelengths of light. This research unlocks the ....Light-Driven Manufacturing for (Re)Programmable Materials. This Laureate Fellowship aims to develop a suite of chemical reactions independently activated by specific colours of light for the precise synthesis of functional macromolecules and the fabrication of (re)programmable polymeric materials. The outcome of this Laureate will be the direct production of advanced 3D printed objects with tuneable properties and functions by exploiting different wavelengths of light. This research unlocks the structural precision of Nature and the next-generation capabilities of reshapability. These innovative tools will revolutionise 3D printing methods, which will create a new era of advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less