Wooden ionogel with simultaneous sorption-desorption functionality enabling 24-hour continuous atmospheric water production

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) offers a promising solution to address freshwater scarcity. Although many solid sorbents exhibit high water uptake capacities, their ability to achieve continuous, all-day water production still depends on complex system configurations. Here, a 24-h SAWH system is presented, enabled by wood-based ionogel (WIG) with simultaneous sorption-desorption functionality. The WIG is prepared by encapsulating 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][Ac]) into the natural wood channels, functioning as a sorption module. Meanwhile, carbonized wood, with photothermal and Joule heating properties, serves as the desorption module. Adjusting the sorption/desorption area ratio enables dynamic kinetic balance, allowing simultaneous moisture uptake and release within a single ionogel. The WIG leverages the water transport capability of wood channels and the fluidity of [EMIM][Ac] to shorten the sorption equilibrium time to 3 h and sustain directional water transfer from the sorption to the desorption zone. This system, driven by solar heating during the day and Joule heating at night, achieves 24-h continuous water production, yielding 47.62 g water per day under natural conditions, equivalent to 2.38 L water m solar − 2 day − 1 ( L water m solar − 2 day − 1 , defined as liters of water produced per solar absorbing area per day). This work demonstrates a sustainable and efficient SAWH strategy, highlighting the unique advantages of wood and offering a new avenue toward mitigating the global water crisis.