Water-producing jacket produces drinking water from air vapor

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a jacket that pulls drinking water directly from the air. The fabric technology is designed for use when water is hard to access, such as during hiking, camping or natural disasters as well as in military applications.

Rather than creating a bulky device, which is common with water-harvesting systems, the researchers focused on integrating the technology into the fibers. The jacket features a hydrogel fabric made from biomass-derived materials that absorbs moisture from the air and releases it when heated by sunlight, enabling the water to be condensed and collected.

The jacket produces between 400 and 900 milliliters of drinkable water per day, about 14–30 ounces, depending on humidity levels. In tests, the researchers captured 1.3 liters (44 ounces) of clean water per day in both arid and semi-humid areas, equating to 4.3 liters of water per kilogram (66 ounces per pound) of moisture-capturing materials per day.

The researchers are exploring other applications, such as backpacks, tents, emergency shelters and other outdoor gear. They will test the technology in outdoor activities, including remote field operations and disaster responses. Discovery to Impact, the university’s research commercialization unit, has filed a patent application for the technology.

This research was published in Science Advances in June.