Investigating the Performance of Metal Surfaces Modified by Laser on the Efficiency of Water Harvesting from Humid Air

The population growth and consequently lack of fresh water resources, are the main concerns of developed communities. Providing water from air humidity is an efficient, clean, and sustainable solution that can supply sweet and fresh water. In this study, different metal surfaces including copper, steel, and aluminum plates have been prepared as a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces through laser, to investigate the amount of collected water at 294.15 K under fully humid environment (100% humidity), at different encounter angles with plates (45, 70, and 90 °). Moreover, the metal plates along with small or large meshes have been also tested. In addition, polytetrafluoroethylene plates have been prepared via laser in order to water harvesting from humid air. It has been shown that all surfaces treated with laser have better efficiency for water harvesting in comparison with the plates without laser. Likewise, the angle of 45° has had the highest amount of collected water on all surfaces. Eventually, it has been observed that steel plate modified with laser 1 has had higher efficiency for producing drinking water.