Device Design and Integration
At the EIL, we develop novel thermal devices and integrated systems that challenge conventional limits in energy and water technologies. Our design philosophy bridges materials science, thermal-fluid engineering, and systems integration, enabling us to translate fundamental discoveries into real-world solutions. Every device we build reflects a deep coupling between heat and mass transfer fundamentals and materials-level innovation, demonstrating how advanced sorbents and functional materials can reshape the way energy and water are captured, stored, and reused.
Our current research spans a broad portfolio of sustainable thermal systems, including:
- Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH)
- Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES)
- Data Centers Thermal Management
- HVAC and Dehumidification
- Green Hydrogen Production
- Dilute Separation Technologies
Our goal is not only to demonstrate proof-of-concept devices, but to uncover the governing transport, phase-change, and interfacial mechanisms that dictate performance and scalability.
Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) offers a sustainable pathway to generate clean water directly from air, yet device performance is often constrained by slow regeneration and limited uptake at low humidity. We have developed a solar-driven hydrogel–salt composite system that couples hygroscopic sorbents with efficient thermal management to enable 24-hour water production using only sunlight. Field tests in the Atacama Desert validated the device’s ability to harvest liquid water in extreme aridity, achieving rapid cycling and stable performance. This approach provides a scalable, low-cost platform for decentralized freshwater generation powered entirely by renewable heat.
Hydrogel-based Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES)
Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) enables efficient use of renewable and waste heat, but conventional materials often require high regeneration temperatures and suffer from degradation over repeated cycling. We have developed a hydrogel–salt composite system that stores thermal energy through reversible water sorption, operating effectively at only 40–80 °C. The polymer matrix stabilizes the salt and maintains rapid mass transport, yielding high energy density (>400 kWh.m⁻3) and exceptional cyclability (> 9 months). This soft-material platform offers a scalable, low-cost route to convert low-grade heat into storable energy, supporting next-generation solar, industrial, and building thermal management systems.
Related References
- C.T. Wilson, C.D. Diaz, J. P. Colque, J.P. Mooney, B. El Fil*, “Solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting in the Atacama Desert through physics-based optimization of a hygroscopic hydrogel device”. Device, Volume 3, Issue 8, 100798 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2025.100798.
- X. Li#, B. El Fil#*, B. Li, G. Graeber, A.C. Li, Y. Zhong, M. Alshrah, C.T. Wilson, E.Lin. “Design of a Compact Multicyclic High-Performance Atmospheric Water Harvester for Arid Environments”. ACS Energy Letters (2024) 9 (7), 3391-3399. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01061.
- Y. Zhong, L. Zhang, X. Li, B. El Fil, C. D. Díaz-Marín, A. C. Li, X. Liu, A. LaPotin, E. N. Wang Bridging materials innovations to sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting devices. Nat Rev Mater 9, 681–698 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00665-2
- B. El Fil and S. Garimella, (2022) “Heat recovery, adsorption thermal storage, and heat pumping to augment gas-fired tumble dryer efficiency” Journal of Energy Storage, 48, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2021.103949
