Enhancing Water Harvesting Efficiency Using Laser-Ablated Brass Surfaces with Hybrid Hydrophilic/Superhydrophobic Patterns

Abstract

In recent years, global climate change and population growth have exacerbated freshwater shortages. To address this issue, harvesting water from atmospheric fog has emerged as a promising technique. Inspired by natural processes, the fabrication of hybrid hydrophilic (HI) and superhydrophobic (SHB) surfaces has gained significant attention for enhancing water harvesting efficiency. This study presents a simple, cost-effective laser ablation method for creating wettability contrast surfaces with triangular and parallel patterns on brass metal. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we investigated the structural and morphological effects on the wettability behavior of irradiated and non-irradiated brass. Additionally, we examined the influence of pattern shapes on water harvesting efficiency. Our findings indicate that triangular patterns significantly enhance water harvesting performance compared to parallel patterns.