Abstract
Industrial cooling towers discharge substantial amounts of water vapour, and this remains a largely untapped resource. Here, inspired by termite mound thermoregulation, we present a four-tier water-recovery architecture to bridge this gap. The primary tier utilizes a heterostructured microsphere coating to achieve a capillary-driven nucleation rate of 33.6 g m−2 min−1, while enabling 1.7 °C of radiative sub-dewpoint cooling via gradient-refractive index spines. The secondary tier integrates an inverted-pyramid composite that acts as a mechanical shield to enlarge the heat-transfer area. Subsequently, the tertiary tier establishes a radiative cooling-dominant gas–liquid heat-transfer scheme with a net power of 133.7 W m−2. Finally, the quaternary tier employs biomimetic flow channels to suppress vapour dispersion and sustain a self-sustaining ‘condensation–radiative cooling–recondensation’ cycle. Operating passively, the system achieves a recovery rate of 41.6 kg m−2 day−1 and an 83% retention rate. For a 300-MW plant, this yields 2.7 × 108 tonnes of annual water savings, meeting the domestic needs of 2.2 million households.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access through your institution
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Water recovery of drying waste using a thermoelectric cooler and PV/T assisted
Synergizing building-integrated photovoltaic with ground-air and water-air heat exchangers for solar-powered gym cooling
Performance enhancement of the solar still using textiles and polyurethane rollers
Data availability
All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the Article and its Supplementary Information. Source data are provided with this paper.
References
Postel, S. For our thirsty world, efficiency or else. Science 313, 1046–1047 (2006).
Google Scholar
Fujimori, S., Hanasaki, N. & Masui, T. Projections of industrial water withdrawal under shared socioeconomic pathways and climate mitigation scenarios. Sustain. Sci. 12, 275–292 (2017).
Google Scholar
Mantelli, M. Development of porous media thermosyphon technology for vapour recovering in cross-current cooling towers. Appl. Therm. Eng. 108, 398–413 (2016).
Google Scholar
Gao, Y. et al. High-yield atmospheric water capture via bioinspired material segregation. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 121, e2321429121 (2024).
Google Scholar
Li, T. et al. Scalable and efficient solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting enabled by bidirectionally aligned and hierarchically structured nanocomposites. Nat. Water 1, 971–981 (2023).
Google Scholar
Wang, P. et al. Designing next-generation all-weather and efficient atmospheric water harvesting powered by solar energy. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 7005–7022 (2025).
Google Scholar
Hanikel, N., Prévot, M. & Yaghi, O. MOF water harvesters. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 348–355 (2020).
Google Scholar
Damak, M. & Varanasi, K. Electrostatically driven fog collection using space charge injection. Sci. Adv. 4, eaao5323 (2018).
Google Scholar
Ghosh, R., Ray, T. & Ganguly, R. Cooling tower fog harvesting in power plants – a pilot study. Energy 89, 1018–1028 (2015).
Google Scholar
Ghosh, R. et al. Influence of metal mesh wettability on fog harvesting in industrial cooling towers. Appl. Therm. Eng. 181, 115963 (2020).
Google Scholar
Ghosh, R. et al. Photocatalytically reactive surfaces for simultaneous water harvesting and treatment. Nat. Sustain. 6, 1663–1672 (2023).
Google Scholar
Li, W. et al. Nighttime radiative cooling for water harvesting from solar panels. ACS Photonics 8, 269–275 (2021).
Google Scholar
Zhou, M. et al. Vapour condensation with daytime radiative cooling. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 118, e2019292118 (2021).
Google Scholar
Yan, Z. et al. Biological optics, photonics and bioinspired radiative cooling. Prog. Mater. Sci. 144, 101291 (2024).
Google Scholar
Zhao, X. et al. A solution-processed radiative cooling glass. Science 382, 684–691 (2023).
Google Scholar
Song, J. et al. Durable radiative cooling against environmental aging. Nat. Commun. 13, 4805 (2022).
Google Scholar
Zhao, Z. et al. Triple-scale structure-induced efficient passive radiative cooling combining robust anticondensation. ACS Nano. 19, 19384–19393 (2025).
Google Scholar
Wang, T. et al. A structural polymer for highly efficient all-day passive radiative cooling. Nat. Commun. 12, 365 (2021).
Google Scholar
Baghel, V., Sikarwar, B. & Muralidhar, K. Dropwise condensation from moist air over a hydrophobic metallic substrate. Appl. Therm. Eng. 181, 115733 (2020).
Google Scholar
Cha, H. et al. Dropwise condensation on solid hydrophilic surfaces. Sci. Adv. 6, eaax0746 (2020).
Google Scholar
Zhang, S. et al. Bioinspired asymmetric amphiphilic surface for triboelectric enhanced efficient water harvesting. Nat. Commun. 13, 4168 (2022).
Google Scholar
Zhang, H. et al. 3D bionic water harvesting system for efficient fog capturing and transporting. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34, 2408522 (2024).
Google Scholar
Ma, J. et al. A lipid-inspired highly adhesive interface for durable superhydrophobicity in wet environments and stable jumping droplet condensation. ACS Nano. 16, 4251–4262 (2022).
Google Scholar
Lam, C. et al. Condensate droplet roaming on nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces. Nat. Commun. 16, 1167 (2025).
Google Scholar
Lo, C., Chen, Y. & Lu, M. Sustained condensation efficiency on 3D hybrid surfaces. Small Struct. 6, 2400406 (2025).
Google Scholar
Ranathunga, D. et al. Molecular dynamics simulations of water condensation on surfaces with tunable wettability. Langmuir 36, 7383–7391 (2020).
Google Scholar
Liddle, J. & Gallatin, G. Nanomanufacturing: a perspective. ACS Nano. 10, 2995–3014 (2016).
Google Scholar
Pou-Álvarez, P. et al. Efficient autonomous dew water harvesting by laser micropatterning: superhydrophilic and high emissivity robust grooved metallic surfaces enabling filmwise condensation and radiative cooling. Adv. Mater. 37, 2419472 (2025).
Google Scholar
Goharshenas, S., Parsimehr, H. & Ehsani, A. Multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces. Adv. Colloid Interf. Sci. 290, 102397 (2019).
Google Scholar
Gu, W. et al. Ultra-durable superhydrophobic cellular coatings. Nat. Commun. 14, 5953 (2023).
Google Scholar
Yan, D. et al. Durable organic coating-free superhydrophobic metal surface by paracrystalline state formation. Adv. Mater. 37, 2412850 (2025).
Google Scholar
Chen, C. et al. Rosin acid and SiO2 modified cotton fabric to prepare fluorine-free durable superhydrophobic coating for oil-water separation. J. Hazard. Mater. 440, 129797 (2022).
Google Scholar
Zhang, C. et al. Bioinspired heterogeneous surface for radiative cooling enhanced power-free moisture harvesting in unsaturated atmosphere. Adv. Mater. 37, 2414389 (2025).
Google Scholar
Peng, X. et al. Chiton-inspired composites synergizing strength and toughness through sinusoidal interlocking interfaces for protective applications. Adv. Mater. 37, 2410836 (2025).
Google Scholar
Singh, K. et al. The architectural design of smart ventilation and drainage systems in termite nests. Sci. Adv. 5, eaat8520 (2019).
Google Scholar
DeMarco, E. How termite mounds ‘breathe’. Changes in temperature between day and night ventilates towering structures. Science https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad1689 (2015).
Google Scholar
Pennisi, E. Africa’s soil engineers: termites. Science 347, 596–597 (2015).
Google Scholar
Bonachela, J. et al. Termite mounds can increase the robustness of dryland ecosystems to climatic change. Science 347, 651–655 (2015).
Google Scholar
Li, H. et al. Morphology controllable synthesis of TiO2 by a facile hydrothermal process. Mater. Lett. 62, 4035–4037 (2008).
Google Scholar
Wang, C. & Ying, J. Sol-gel synthesis and hydrothermal processing of anatase and rutile titania nanocrystals. Chem. Mater. 11, 3113–3120 (1999).
Google Scholar
Penn, R. & Banfield, J. Morphology development and crystal growth in nanocrystalline aggregates under hydrothermal conditions: insights from titania. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 63, 1549–1557 (1999).
Google Scholar
Pittenger, B., Erina, N. & Su, C. in Nanomechanical Analysis of High Performance Materials (ed. Tiwari, A.) 31–51 (Springer, 2014); https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6919-9_2
Chen, H. et al. Enhancing the proportion of three-coordinated Al active sites on Co/Al2O3 for efficient CF4 decomposition. Environ. Sci. Nano. 12, 3530–3538 (2025).
Google Scholar
Sepahvand, S. et al. A promising process to modify cellulose nanofibers for carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption. Carbohyd. Polym. 230, 115571 (2020).
Google Scholar
Jain, A. et al. Surface properties and bacterial behavior of micro conical dimple textured Ti6Al4V surface through micro-milling. Surf. Interface. 21, 100714 (2020).
Google Scholar
Davis, A. et al. Spray impact resistance of a superhydrophobic nanocomposite coating. AIChE J. 60, 3025–3032 (2014).
Google Scholar
Xie, B. et al. ‘Sandwich structured’ composite film with double barrier radiative cooling, adjustable heating, and multi-reflective electromagnetic interference shielding for all-weather protection. ACS Photonics 11, 5039–5049 (2024).
Google Scholar
Wang, D. et al. Design of robust superhydrophobic surfaces. Nature 582, 55–59 (2020).
Google Scholar
Ding, Z. et al. Iridescent daytime radiative cooling with no absorption peaks in the visible range. Small 18, 2202400 (2022).
Google Scholar
Lee, M. et al. Photonic structures in radiative cooling. Light Sci. Appl. 12, 134 (2023).
Google Scholar
Zhai, Y. et al. Scalable-manufactured randomized glass-polymer hybrid metamaterial for daytime radiative cooling. Science 355, 1062–1066 (2017).
Google Scholar
Tao, J. et al. Side structural regulation strategy of 3D gear evaporators for enhanced solar water evaporation and salt harvesting. Desalination 614, 119206 (2025).
Google Scholar
Li, T. et al. Simultaneous atmospheric water production and 24-hour power generation enabled by moisture-induced energy harvesting. Nat. Commun. 13, 6771 (2022).
Google Scholar
Li, J. et al. Tandem atmospheric water harvesting and passive cooling enabled by hygroscopic biopolymer-based aerogels. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2423063 (2025).
Google Scholar
Xu, J. et al. All-in-one hybrid atmospheric water harvesting for all-day water production by natural sunlight and radiative cooling. Energy Environ. Sci. 17, 4988–5001 (2024).
Google Scholar
Guo, H. et al. Super moisture-sorbent sponge for sustainable atmospheric water harvesting and power generation. Adv. Mater. 36, 2414285 (2024).
Google Scholar
Ahmad, S. et al. Lubricated surface in a vertical double-sided architecture for radiative cooling and atmospheric water harvesting. Adv. Mater. 36, 2404037 (2024).
Google Scholar
Zou, H. et al. Solar-driven scalable hygroscopic gel for recycling water from passive plant transpiration and soil evaporation. Nat. Water 2, 663–673 (2024).
Google Scholar
LaPotin, A. et al. Dual-stage atmospheric water harvesting device for scalable solar-driven water production. Joule 5, 166–182 (2021).
Google Scholar
Haechler, I. et al. Exploiting radiative cooling for uninterrupted 24-hour water harvesting from the atmosphere. Sci. Adv. 7, eabf3978 (2021).
Google Scholar
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52573034 to T.W.) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant no. 2022YFC3901902 to T.W.).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
J.Q., Z.W. and T.W. designed the project. T.W. and H.X. supervised and reviewed it. C.Z., C.G. and F.F. fabricated the samples. C.Z., C.G. and W.Z. performed the experiments and measurements. C.Z. and K.Z. offered assistance with the modelling and equipment. C.Z., T.W. and H.X. wrote the Article and Supplementary Information. C.Z. processed data and plotted images. C.Z., C.G., W.Z. and K.Z. contributed to the data analysis and manuscript review. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Peer review
Peer review information
Nature Water thanks Jonathan Boreyko, Xianming Dai and Tingxian Li for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
Supplementary Information (download PDF )
Supplementary Notes 1–12, Figs. 1–46 and Tables 1–5.
Reporting Summary (download PDF )
Source data
Source Data Fig. 3 (download XLSX )
Statistical source data.
Source Data Fig. 4 (download XLSX )
Statistical source data.
Source Data Fig. 5 (download XLSX )
Statistical source data.
Source Data Fig. 6 (download XLSX )
Statistical source data.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
Reprints and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, C., Xie, H., Guo, C. et al. A bioinspired hierarchical architecture for the high-yield recovery of industrial water vapour.
Nat Water (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-026-00635-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Version of record:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-026-00635-8
Source: Resources - nature.com
