Carbon composites for efficient solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting

Using carbon composites for efficient atmospheric water harvesting and solar thermal conversion presents a promising approach to the persistent issue of water shortage. Recent research has concentrated on the application of various carbon-based materials, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), carbon black, and mesoporous carbon, for both moisture capture and photothermal purposes. Integrating these materials with hygroscopic salts, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), polymer composites, or hydrogels has been proposed to enhance water adsorption and release. This review comprehensively summarises the diverse carbon-based materials utilised as effective solar-driven atmospheric water harvesters. Additionally, it offers a comparative analysis of the efficacy of different carbon-based moisture adsorbents and discusses the challenges and limitations associated with using carbon-based materials for moisture adsorption and solar-powered desorption in atmospheric water harvesting. The review also discusses potential future research paths in this field.