Nature-Inspired Surfaces for Water-Energy Nexus

Water is the origin of life and energy. Despite its ubiquity and seeming simplicity, the water is probably the least understood matter in the world. The phase transition, transport, and manipulation, normally spanning different time and length scales, constitute the basic paradigm of numerous biological systems and industrial processes. Over the past decade, the advances in nature-inspired surfaces provide new dimensions in the fundamental understandings and control of interfacial and transport phenomena of water, especially on textured surfaces and under complicated working environments. This work discusses recent innovations at the nature-inspired surfaces and interfaces to address one of the most important challenges facing us today, i.e., water-energy nexus. In particular, We highlight how the rational design and control of topological structures enables us to fundamentally change the liquid-solid interaction and improve the water kinetic energy harvesting efficiency from various forms of water.