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 humancomfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energyintensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered enginesinspired by nastic movements in plants to develop extremely efficient dehumidifiers and water harvestingmachines. These polymer actuators can help address the auto-acceleration of climate change caused by theincreasing use of air conditioners and provide cheap, clean water for remote communities.