Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA
Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- and Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142, USA.
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2016 Aug 6;374(2073). doi: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0135.
Access to a safe supply of water is a human right. However, with growing populations, global warming and contamination due to human activity, it is one that is increasingly under threat. It is hoped that nature can inspire the creation of materials to aid in the supply and management of water, from water collection and purification to water source clean-up and rehabilitation from oil contamination. Many species thrive in even the driest places, with some surviving on water harvested from fog. By studying these species, new materials can be developed to provide a source of fresh water from fog for communities across the globe. The vast majority of water on the Earth is in the oceans. However, current desalination processes are energy-intensive. Systems in our own bodies have evolved to transport water efficiently while blocking other molecules and ions. Inspiration can be taken from such to improve the efficiency of desalination and help purify water containing other contaminants. Finally, oil contamination of water from spills or the fracking technique can be a devastating environmental disaster. By studying how natural surfaces interact with liquids, new techniques can be developed to clean up oil spills and further protect our most precious resource.This article is part of the themed issue 'Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science'.
获得安全的供水是一项人权。然而，随着人口的增长、全球变暖以及人类活动造成的污染，这一人权正日益受到威胁。人们希望大自然能够激发人们创造材料，以帮助供水和管理水，从集水和净化到水源清理以及从油污污染中恢复。许多物种在即使是最干燥的地方也能茁壮成长，有些物种靠从雾中收集的水生存。通过研究这些物种，可以开发出新的材料，为全球各地的社区提供从雾中获取淡水的来源。地球上绝大多数的水都在海洋中。然而，目前的海水淡化过程是能源密集型的。我们体内的系统已经进化到能够高效地输送水，同时阻止其他分子和离子。可以从这些系统中获得灵感，以提高海水淡化的效率，并帮助净化含有其他污染物的水。最后，石油泄漏或水力压裂技术造成的水污染可能是一场毁灭性的环境灾难。通过研究自然表面与液体的相互作用，可以开发出新的技术来清理石油泄漏，并进一步保护我们最宝贵的资源。本文是主题为“用于绿色科学的仿生分级结构表面”的特刊的一部分。
