A comprehensive review of atmospheric water harvesting: from conventional techniques to radiative cooling solutions

This paper conducts a comprehensive review on the advances in atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology. The principles, applications, advantages, and disadvantages of conventional AWH methods, such as refrigeration condensation, fog water collection, and adsorption condensation, are introduced, and the feasibility and prospects of integrating AWH with radiative cooling technology are analyzed, especially the unique advantages of passive daytime radiative cooling-based AWH, which are discussed in detail. Compared with conventional AWH technologies, radiative cooling technology effectively lowers surface temperatures through nighttime radiative cooling, which not only increases water collection in low-humidity environments but also reduces system energy consumption, providing an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. Finally, the review discusses the challenges faced by radiative cooling technology and its future development directions, aiming to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the innovation and optimization of AWH technologies.