Nobel-winning chemist Omar Yaghi pioneers atmospheric water harvesting with MOFs

MIT
MIT
22h ago
6 views
Nobel-winning chemist Omar Yaghi uses metal-organic frameworks to harvest water from air efficiently, challenging traditional desalination.
Nobel-winning chemist Omar Yaghi pioneers atmospheric water harvesting with MOFs
A What happened
Omar Yaghi, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in October 2025, developed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) which absorb and release water from air efficiently, even at low humidity. Unlike conventional refrigeration or desiccant-based devices that require substantial energy, MOFs need only low heat, achievable from sunlight. Yaghi's company Atoco is advancing prototypes to produce potable water off grid, aiming to alleviate global fresh water scarcity caused by climate change, pollution, and overuse. This approach may offer a decentralized alternative to energy-intensive desalination plants that harm ecosystems with brine discharge. Atmospheric water harvesting is emerging as a critical technology amid increasing water stress worldwide, particularly in arid regions. Competitors like AirJoule also pursue MOF-based solutions, signaling a nascent industry focused on sustainable water generation from thin air.
★

Key insights

  • 1

    MOFs enable low-energy water extraction in arid climates: The molecular design of MOFs creates large surface areas that absorb water at humidity levels too low for conventional technologies. This lowers energy requirements compared to refrigeration or desiccant systems, enabling scalable deployment in dry regions.

  • 2

    Water from air technology challenges desalination's dominance: MOF-based atmospheric water harvesting could bypass costly, energy-intensive desalination plants, reduce ecological damage from brine discharge, and decentralize water production in water-stressed areas.

  • 3

    Emerging industry driven by climate stress and water quality concerns: As droughts, groundwater depletion, pollution, and microplastics worsen, demand grows for novel sources of clean water. MOF technology advances illustrate how material science and sustainable design respond to this global crisis.

Takeaways

Yaghi's work on metal-organic frameworks marks a significant step toward sustainable water solutions by enabling atmospheric water harvesting at lower humidity and energy cost. The technology could reshape water access in arid and resource-constrained regions globally.

Topics

Climate & Environment Climate World & Politics Policy & Regulation Business & Markets Innovation

Read the full article on MIT