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Zhang et al. Chem Synth 2023;3:10 Chemical Synthesis
DOI: 10.20517/cs.2022.40

Review Open Access

Recent advances in porous adsorbent assisted
atmospheric water harvesting: a review of adsorbent

materials

1,2
1,2
1,2
Shuai Zhang , Jingru Fu , Guolong Xing , Weidong Zhu , Teng Ben 1,2,*
1,2
1 Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Green Syntheses and Applications of Fluorine-Containing Specialty Chemicals, Institute of
Advanced Fluorine-Containing Materials, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China.
2 Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal
University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China.
* Correspondence to: Prof. Teng Ben, Zhejiang Engineering Laboratory for Green Syntheses and Applications of Fluorine-
Containing Specialty Chemicals, Institute of Advanced Fluorine-Containing Materials, Zhejiang Normal University, Yingbin
avenue 688, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials,
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Yingbin avenue 688, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China. E-mail:
tengben@zjnu.edu.cn

How to cite this article: Zhang S, Fu J, Xing G, Zhu W, Ben T. Recent advances in porous adsorbent assisted atmospheric water
harvesting: a review of adsorbent materials. Chem Synth 2023;3:10. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/cs.2022.40

Received: 8 Dec 2022 First Decision: 10 Jan 2023 Revised: 30 Jan 2023 Accepted: 16 Feb 2023 Published: 23 Feb 2023

Academic Editors: Wei Li, Chen Wang Copy Editor: Ke-Cui Yang Production Editor: Ke-Cui Yang

Abstract
Water shortage is an increasing threat to humankind. Porous sorbent assisted atmospheric water harvesting
(psaAWH) has emerged as an effective technological countermeasure. In this review, we summarize the types of
porous adsorbents used in psaAWH and provide an overview of their states of development. The water adsorption
mechanism and the processes associated with each material are analyzed, and the application prospects of the
adsorbents are evaluated. The effect of the inherent properties (pore size, functional group, etc.) of the adsorbent
on the water harvesting performance is also discussed. Further, we focus on the water adsorption/desorption
kinetics of the adsorbents and outline various methods to improve the kinetics. At this stage, there are many
strategies for improving the kinetics of the adsorbent, which in turn influences the adsorption process and
intra/inter-crystalline diffusion. However, there is still limited research on the transport of water molecules in
microporous adsorbents for psaAWH. Thus, this aspect is re-examined herein from a new perspective
(superfluidity) in the review. Based on the discussion, we can reasonably infer that water molecule superfluidity
can exist in nanoconfined channels, thus promoting the rapid transport of water molecules. The formation of water
superfluidity is a feasible strategy for improving the intracrystalline diffusion of the psaAWH adsorbent. Finally, we
consider the future developments and challenges of psaAWH in detail. We think this review can serve as a guide

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