Australian scientists have developed a roof coating that can simultaneously cool buildings and collect moisture from the air. This invention has been hailed as a potential solution to two of the world's biggest challenges – extreme heat and freshwater scarcity.
A team from the University of Sydney, in collaboration with startup Dewpoint Innovations, has completed six months of testing and is now preparing to bring the technology to market. This polymer coating can reflect up to 97% of solar radiation and lower the interior temperature of buildings by 6 degrees Celsius compared to the outside temperature.
This causes condensation to form on the surface, which can then be collected. In tests conducted on the roof of the Sydney Nanoscience Centre, the coating was able to collect moisture for approximately 30% of the year, producing up to 390 milliliters of water per square meter per day. Tests also showed that the surface is resistant to fading.
This new coating uses a porous structure made of PVDF-HFP polymers to create a reflective effect. The tiny pores scatter sunlight, preventing glare or the addition of harmful UV additives. According to the developers, this technology holds promise for becoming the foundation for energy-independent facilities and even regional water production.
