Project Objectives
The main objective of the project is to carry out fundamental scientific research on atmospheric water harvesting as part of modern green and sustainable technologies addressing global challenges related to water scarcity, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.
The project aims to investigate the relationship between structure – properties – performance of biomimetically structured surfaces of biopolymer materials, seeking to approach the thermodynamic limits of extracting water from air.
Main Scientific Activities
The research program focuses on three complementary approaches:
Development and study of surfaces with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, inspired by biological systems (e.g., the Namib desert beetle and cactus spines), with the aim of optimizing condensation and droplet dynamics.
Creation of photonic structures with controlled spectral selectivity, high infrared emissivity, and reflectance in the solar range to promote night-time condensation.
Investigation of biopolymer hydrogels with hierarchical porous architecture and functionalized groups for efficient absorption and controlled desorption of water.
Methodologically, the project combines femtosecond laser structuring (subtractive approach) and electrostatic spraying/printing (additive approach), as well as comprehensive morphological, chemical, and optical characterization.
Expected Results
The expected results of the project implementation include:
Potential Applications and Societal Impact
Despite the fundamental nature of the research, the project results have potential for future application in:
Work Packages
Work Package 1: Administrative Management and Dissemination of Results
This work package is aimed at effective administrative, financial, and organizational project management, as well as systematic dissemination and promotion of scientific results. Activities include coordination between partner organizations, monitoring implementation against the work program and budget, and ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements of the National Science Fund.
In parallel, activities are carried out for scientific and public dissemination of results through open scientific publications, conferences, publicly accessible data, and online visibility, with an emphasis on the project’s contribution to green and sustainable technologies.
Work Package 2: Fog Harvesting via Surfaces with Wettability Contrast (FAWH)
This work package focuses on fundamental research into fog harvesting using biomimetically structured surfaces inspired by natural systems such as the Namib desert beetle and cactus spines. The role of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, microrelief, and hierarchical structuring on condensation, coalescence, and transport of water droplets will be investigated. The goal is to identify key structural parameters determining the efficiency of fog water harvesting in the context of green and sustainable technologies.
Work Package 3: Dew Harvesting via Passive Radiative Cooling (RAWH)
This work package is aimed at investigating radiative cooling as a mechanism for night-time atmospheric water harvesting in the form of dew. Photonic and optical structures with controlled spectral properties will be developed and analyzed, enabling efficient thermal emission to the sky and suppression of solar heating. The main focus is on the relationship between optical characteristics, thermal behavior, and condensation efficiency, as part of fundamental research in green technologies for passive cooling and water harvesting.
Work Package 4: Spontaneous Water Vapor Harvesting by Sorption (SAWH)
This work package is dedicated to fundamental research on sorption-based water vapor harvesting using biopolymer hydrogels with hierarchical porous structures. The influence of chemical composition, functional groups, and morphology on the absorption and desorption processes of water molecules under different humidity and temperature conditions will be analyzed. The goal is to clarify the physicochemical mechanisms determining the efficiency and cyclic stability of sorption materials, with a view toward future sustainable solutions for atmospheric water harvesting.
The project is funded by the National Science Fund (Bulgaria) under the Call for Fundamental Scientific Research – 2025.
Host organization: Institute of Solid State Physics “Acad. Georgi Nadjakov” – BAS
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Petkov Yankov
Scientific Team:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Ivanova Iordanova, researcher
Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Victoria Todorova Atanassova, postdoctoral researcher
Electronics engineer Radostin Stefanov Stefanov
Assistant (MSc) Maria-Gabriela Ventsislavova Zheleva, early-career researcher
MSc Spas Dimitrov Kerimov, PhD student
Technical assistant Eva Kaloyanova Taralova, student
Partner organization: Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies “Acad. Yordan Malinovski” – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Georgi Tsvetanov Marinov, postdoctoral researcher
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katerina Lazarova, researcher
Prof. Dr. Yulian Zagranyarski, researcher
Physics technician Ketrin Pavlova, student
