Breakthrough Nanomaterial Efficiently Extracts Clean Water from Air

In a significant advancement for global water accessibility, an international research collaboration has developed a novel nanomaterial that efficiently extracts clean drinking water from atmospheric humidity. This innovative material, engineered through the efforts of researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the National University of Singapore, and several partner institutions across Asia, promises to address water scarcity challenges in regions where clean potable water is limited.

The breakthrough was led by UNSW's Associate Professor Rakesh Joshi and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, with findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) in June 2025. According to Dr. Joshi, who specializes in materials science, "Our technology will have application in any region where we have sufficient humidity but limited access to or availability of clean potable water."

Currently, approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water, a pressing issue highlighted by a 2023 report from the United Nations. Although only about 13 million gigaliters of water exists in the atmosphere, it represents a substantial and largely untapped resource for fresh water. The new nanomaterial developed by the research team is capable of absorbing over three times its weight in water at a significantly faster rate than existing technologies.

The innovative material builds on the properties of graphene oxide, which is known for its strong water adsorption capabilities. Researchers enhanced this material through a process called intercalation, where calcium ions (Ca²⁺) were introduced into the graphene oxide structure. This process improves the hydrogen bonding between calcium and oxygen, thereby significantly increasing the material's water absorption capacity.

Xiaojun (Carlos) Ren, who is the first author of the study, explained, "We measured the water adsorbed by graphene oxide alone and by calcium alone. When combined, the result was greater than the sum of both." The team further optimized the material by forming it into an aerogel, a lightweight structure recognized for its extensive surface area. This configuration allows for efficient water absorption while requiring minimal energy (around 50°C) to release the absorbed water.

The project was supported by supercomputer modeling from the Australian National Computational Infrastructure, with Professor Amir Karton of the University of New England spearheading the computational analysis that elucidated the molecular interactions of the material. This collaborative effort involved scientists from Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, and India, and has attracted interest from industry partners who are now exploring ways to scale the technology for practical deployment.

Professor Liming Dai, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation, noted the societal implications of this research, stating, "This knowledge will help provide clean drinking water to a large proportion of those 2.2 billion people. It demonstrates the societal impact of collaborative research from our Centre."

This development not only underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges but also highlights the potential of innovative technologies in creating sustainable solutions for pressing issues such as water scarcity. As the research progresses and industry partnerships develop, the implications for water-stressed regions could be transformative, providing a much-needed resource for populations currently facing severe water shortages.