Biomimetic\nFog Collector with Hybrid and Gradient\nWettabilities

Water scarcity is a global problem\nand collecting water from the\nair is a viable solution to this crisis. Inspired by Namib Desert\nbeetle, leaf venation and spider silk, we designed an integrated biomimetic\nsystem with hybrid wettability and wettability gradient. The hybrid\nhydrophilic–hydrophobic wettability design that bionomics desert\nbeetle’s back can construct a three-dimensional topography\nwith a water layer on the surface, expanding the contact area with\nthe fog flow and thus improving the droplet trapping efficiency. The\nvenation-like structure with wettability gradient not only provides\na planned path for water transportation, but also accelerates water\nremoval under the synergistic effect of gravity and wettability driving\nforce, thus further improving the surface regeneration rate. The collector\ncombines droplet capture, coalescence, transportation, separation,\nand storage capabilities, which provides new ideas for the design\nof future high-efficiency fog collectors.