Towards a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric water harvesting technologies - a systematic and bibliometric review

An effective way to alleviate water scarcity is atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), particularly for inland areas that lack liquid water sources. This study reviewed studies on AWH from 2009 to 2023 to assess the trends, evolution, and future research directions for the field. It adopted a combination of Biblioshiny in R and VOSviewer visualization software to systematically and bibliometrically review studies on the topic. The study revealed that AWH research is influenced by technological advancements, environmental, and societal needs. China, the USA, and the UK are the top contributors to AWH research, demonstrating a global interest in this vital area across various regions. To increase water productivity with acceptable costs, researchers have worked more on modifying the type of composite material for water absorption and their characteristics. The study identified potential research gaps and hotspots for future research.