MIT's solution for producing drinking water from air

Today, June 11, 2025, a team of experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presented an innovative system for collecting atmospheric moisture and converting it into clean drinking water. This device passively captures water from the air – without the need for electricity – making it suitable even for the most challenging conditions, such as Death Valley in California.

Innovative materials and design

The core of the technology is a hydrogel reinforced with glycerin that retains salt within the polymer matrix, preventing salt leakage and water contamination. The material is shaped into a structure resembling black “bubble wrap” foil with domes that expand by absorbing moisture at night and then contract during the day to encourage evaporation and condensation on the glass.

The hydrogel is enclosed between glass panels with a special cooled coating, and the collected water flows down the inner side of the panel into a collection pipe.

Testing in Death Valley

In November 2023, the device was installed in Death Valley and tested for seven days. The humidity varied between 21% and 88%, and the water production was 57–161.5 ml per day per panel. Even in extremely dry conditions, better efficiency was achieved than most passive and some active systems.

How does the system work?

• Night process: Higher relative humidity – the hydrogel absorbs moisture and expands.


• Day process: Solar energy aided by cooled glass promotes evaporation and condensation, and water is collected.

Everything happens without pumps or energy sources – the device operates solely using natural temperature and humidity changes.

Comparative results and advantages

The hydrogel design offers dynamic expansion and contraction, improving absorption capacity compared to MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) that lack this flexibility. The incorporation of glycerin stabilizes salt (lithium chloride), avoiding contamination – water met civil standards for saline water.

Scalability and future development

A 0.5 m² panel was tested, but the structure allows linking into modules. The vertical orientation of the panels and compact design make the system suitable even for limited spaces.

Situated in a family house, the small-scale system can be scaled according to needs, creating a modular vortex of moderate amounts of drinking water.

Further hydrogel types with greater capacity, rapid regeneration, and possible multiple cycles per day are also being developed.

Safety and durability

Raw water collected by this system meets health standards without the need for additional filtration, thanks to materials without nano-porosity and stabilizing substances like glycerin.

According to a study published on June 11, 2025, in the journal Nature Water, the panel showed it can last at least one year without performance loss.

Potential for global application

The early model targets areas with limited access to drinking water and no infrastructure, such as underdeveloped regions or remote settlements. The system can even be installed in dry desert areas, accumulating enough water for daily family needs.

It could also serve as a supplement to existing solutions in tropical and temperate climates, where higher humidity allows greater water production.

Interdisciplinary progress

This project combines polymer chemistry, thermodynamics, and civil engineering principles. Cooled glass ensures the condensation effect, while the hydrogel pop-up domains enable switching between evaporation and capture.

The MIT team, led by Professor Xuanhe Zhao and scientific newcomer “Will” Chang Liu, combines material innovations with a design suitable for global adaptation and rural application.

Broader perspectives and similar technologies

This system follows trends in water extraction technology from the air. As last year’s hydrogel experiments showed (e.g., record higher salt absorption), MOF technologies also show promise, such as Berkeley’s portable device powered only by solar energy.

Some analysts believe passive systems could make a global contribution, providing access to drinking water for billions without infrastructure challenges.

Application in Croatia?

Although tests were conducted in Death Valley, the concept can be adapted to our regions, especially in dry summers and areas with limited sources. The modularity of the system allows adaptation to volume and available space, opening doors for application on rural farms and tourist facilities.

For broader implementation, it is necessary to monitor production costs, material availability, and local maintenance capability, but future development may enable domestic production and use.

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology