A self-sufficient system for fog-to-water conversion and nitrogen fertilizer production to enhance crop growth

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60340-0
• Publication Date: 2025-05-27T20:42:01Z
• Authors: Zhenwen Zhang; Tong Li; Yongjiu Yuan; Zhi Zhang; Chen Ling; Xiaoxue Yao; Hongbo Wang; Wai Kin Lo; Qili Xu; Jun Liu; Yun Hau Ng; Long Teng; Steven Wang
• Keywords: Crop Production

Crops require water and fertilizers to grow. However, the shortage of freshwater limits regions where plants, especially crops, can be grown, misuse chemical imposes a burden on environment human health. This study develops self-sufficient system that passively capture produce plant nutrients from air through integration fog-to-water converter spark-type droplet-based electric generator. The proof-of-concept system, based large-scale 3D wedged spines, achieves conversion efficiency 35% yields nitrogen fertilizer at rate 2.38 mg per hour liter droplets. Scaling this could boost global wheat production by approximately 1 megaton annually, even if operated for short period each day. approach offers self-reliant potentially eco-friendly solution agriculture.