A self-sufficient system for fog-to-water conversion and nitrogen fertilizer production to enhance crop growth
Zhenwen Zhang, Tong Li, Yongjiu Yuan, Zhi Zhang, Chen Ling, Xiaoxue Yao, H Wang, Wai Kin Lo, Q. N. Xu, Jun Liu, Yun Hau Ng, Teng Long, Steven Wang
Abstract
Crops require water and fertilizers to grow. However, the shortage of freshwater limits the regions where plants, especially crops, can be grown, and the misuse of chemical fertilizers imposes a burden on the environment and human health. This study develops a self-sufficient system that can passively capture water and produce plant nutrients from the air through the integration of a fog-to-water converter and a spark-type droplet-based electric generator. The proof-of-concept system, based on large-scale 3D wedged spines, achieves a fog-to-water conversion efficiency of 35% and yields nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 2.38 mg per hour per liter of water droplets. Scaling this system could boost global wheat production by approximately 1 megaton annually, even if operated for a short period each day. This approach offers a self-reliant and potentially eco-friendly solution for agriculture. In this work, authors demonstrate a self-sufficient fog harvester system that simultaneously produces nitrogen-based nutrients for fertilizer via spark-driven nitrogen fixation. The device has the potential to enhance crop growth sustainably without additional energy input or pollutant emissions.