Drops of Innovation - Bridging Physics to Sustainability

This seminar explores groundbreaking advances at the intersection of interfacial physics and sustainability. Three revolutionary systems are unveiled: (1) Droplet mops that remove surface contaminants with 99.9% efficiency using raindrop-sized impacts, slashing water use by 90% for solar farm cleaning; (2) A self-sufficient air-to-fertilizer system combining fog harvesting and droplet-based nitrogen synthesis, boosting crop yields without freshwater or chemical inputs; and (3) An electricity-free air-to-hydrogen technology leveraging radiative cooling and photocatalysis to produce green H? from atmospheric moisture [1,2,3]. Together, these innovations harness nonlinear fluid dynamics, spectral engineering, and environmental resource harvesting to address water scarcity, food security, and clean energy, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaker: Steven Wang, City University of Hong Kong

Room 3110