Our mission
Our mission is to harness the power of smart textiles to provide sustainable water-harvesting solutions for arid regions. By integrating liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) inspired by nature鈥檚 adaptations, we create fabrics that dynamically respond to humidity changes, enabling efficient water collection. This innovative approach aims to make clean water more accessible for drinking, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Our challenge
Water scarcity is a growing crisis, affecting millions in arid and semi-arid regions. Traditional water-harvesting technologies are often expensive, difficult to maintain, or require significant infrastructure. Communities in need struggle with limited access to clean water, which impacts health, food production, and overall quality of life. A scalable, cost-effective solution is urgently needed to address this challenge.
Our solution
We are developing bio-inspired smart textiles that passively collect water from the air. Drawing inspiration from desert beetles and moisture-responsive plants, our LCE-based fabrics expand and contract to optimize water capture. This low-cost, scalable, and maintenance-free technology offers a sustainable way to provide water for drinking and agriculture, empowering communities in water-scarce regions.
"The TU contest is a great chance to put our smart textile idea in the spotlight and get feedback from experts. It鈥檚 also a way to meet potential collaborators, push our project forward, and make our water-harvesting tech even better. Plus, it could help us turn this idea into something that really makes a difference for communities that need sustainable water solutions."
Team
Guzin, Desiree, Maxime, Shree & Izabela
Contact
Guzin Ozkan (g.ozkan@student.tue.nl)