Article by Tom Howarth, published on The Newsweek on Feb 6th, 2025.
New Materials Could Help Solve Drought in the Western US
The Newsweek discusses how Atoco’s use of reticular materials such as MOFs and COFs can efficiently extract water vapor from the atmosphere, offering a potential solution to drought conditions in the Western U.S
“The biggest dream is to decentralize access to clean water,”
Dr. Samer Taha, CEO of Atoco
Advances in a field of research known as reticular chemistry could provide a breakthrough solution to the growing water scarcity crisis in the western United States.
Material science researchers have developed highly porous crystalline materials, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), capable of efficiently capturing water vapor from the atmosphere—even in extremely dry conditions.
These novel materials could transform the way water is sourced, offering an alternative to reliance on dwindling natural reservoirs.
The development comes at a critical time, as water shortages intensify across the western U.S. and globally.
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