Fog Harvesting Devices Inspired from Single to Multiple Creatures: Current Progress

Nature showcases extraordinary wisdom through the creation of diverse species, with plants and animals evolving complex adaptive structures to survive in extreme environments. In today's world, where global water resources are increasingly scarce, finding innovative technologies for effective water collection has become an urgent challenge. Fog collection, proven effective in arid and foggy regions, is receiving widespread attention. In particular, biomimetic surfaces, which mimic the fog collection mechanisms found in nature-such as spider silk, desert beetles, and cacti-show immense potential. This study delves into these natural prototypes, uncovering their microstructures and the scientific principles behind their fog collection abilities. Using the theory of interfacial tension, the paper provides a comprehensive explanation of their fog collection mechanisms. Additionally, the article reviews the latest advancements in the manufacturing techniques for biomimetic surfaces and fog collection devices, offering a detailed comparison between single-surface and multi-surface designs in terms of performance. Finally, the paper evaluates the current challenges faced in this field and envisions the future development of this technology, aiming to drive the practical application of next-generation fog collection devices and address the global water crisis.