Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a textile that can harvest drinking water directly from the air. Integrated into a prototype jacket, the material captures moisture and converts it into potable water. The innovation could support outdoor recreation, emergency response and water access in remote regions.

Most atmospheric water harvesting technologies rely on stationary systems such as panels, boxes or large sorbent units. The Texas researchers took a different approach. They embedded the technology directly into fabric. This creates new opportunities for wearable products and portable water collection systems.

Textile Structure Improves Water Collection

The jacket contains a specially engineered textile that absorbs moisture from the surrounding air. The material then channels the collected water to detachable harvesting units. Users can place these units in a foldable collector, where gentle heating releases the water for collection.

Tests showed that the jacket produced between 400 and 900 millilitres of drinking water per day. Performance depended on humidity levels. The researchers report that the textile achieved a three- to ten-fold improvement over conventional atmospheric water harvesting materials.

The team attributes this performance to the textile’s internal transport system. Rather than simply absorbing moisture, the material quickly moves water vapour onto fibre surfaces and through the fabric structure. This allows the system to operate effectively in a wearable format.

Opportunities for Outdoor Products and Emergency Equipment

The technology could extend beyond clothing. The researchers are exploring applications for backpacks, tents, emergency shelters and other outdoor equipment. These products could help users collect drinking water from ambient humidity during daily activities or emergency situations.

Future development will focus on outdoor recreation, disaster relief operations and regions where access to conventional water infrastructure remains limited.

Biomass-Derived Hydrogel Achieves Record Performance

Alongside the wearable textile, the research team also developed a separate atmospheric water harvesting device. The system performed successfully in both the arid Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico and the more humid climate of Austin, Texas.

At the heart of the device is a hydrogel fabric made from biomass-derived materials. The fabric absorbs moisture from the air and releases it when exposed to solar heat. The resulting water vapour condenses and can then be collected. The device generated 1.3 litres of clean water per day during testing. This equals 4.3 litres of water per kilogram of moisture-capturing material per day. According to the researchers, this represents a new performance benchmark for atmospheric water harvesting.

Many regions that could benefit from this technology face severe water stress. These include parts of North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, the system shows strong potential as a decentralised solution for water production in remote communities and emergency situations.

Both innovations form part of the team’s broader AirGel platform, which won the top prize in the graduate category of the 2025 National Collegiate Inventors Competition.

Source & photos: The University of Texas at Austin