Photochromic Water Harvesting Platform
AssigneeWarner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, LLC
InventorsJohn C. Warner, Srinivasa R. Cheruku, Sofia Trakhtenberg
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Abstract
The application discloses compounds, compositions, films and devices comprising the compounds and compositions, and their methods of use for harvesting water.
Claims18
A photoactive, thermally active or electrically-active or a combination of a photoactive, thermally active and/or electrically active film, wherein the film comprises a compound having a ground state that reversibly converts to its activated or zwitterionic form upon exposure to light, heat or an electric field or a combination of light, heat and/or electric field, wherein the activated state of the compound is more polar than the ground state of the compound.
A device comprising a photoactive, thermally or electrically-active, or a combination of a photoactive, thermally active and/or electrically active film deposited on a surface of the device, wherein the film comprises a compound having a ground state that reversibly converts to its activated state upon exposure to light, heat or an electric field or a combination of light, heat and/or electrical field, wherein the activated state of the compound is more polar than the ground state of the compound.
A method for the condensation of water on a surface of a film deposited on a surface of a device, comprising:
- exposing the device comprising photoactive, thermally or electrically-active or a combination of a photoactive, thermally active and/or electrically-active film, wherein the film comprises a compound having a ground state that reversibly converts to its activated state upon exposure to light, heat or an electric field, or a combination of light, heat and/or electric field, wherein the activated state of the compound is more polar than the ground state of the compound;
- wherein the device is exposed for a sufficient period of time to condense moisture on or capture and adhere water droplets on the surface of the film;
- and
- continuously collecting the water formed or collected on the surface of the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.