Biopolymers for Hygroscopic Material Development.

The effective management of atmospheric water will create huge value for mankind. Diversified and sustainable biopolymers that are derived from organisms provide rich building blocks for various hygroscopic materials. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in developing biopolymers for hygroscopic materials. We begin with a brief introduction of the species diversity and the processes of obtaining various biopolymer materials from organisms. We then illustrate the fabrication of hygroscopic materials, with a specific focus on the use of biopolymer-derived materials as substrates to produce composites, and the use of biopolymers as building blocks to fabricate composite gels. Next, we systematically present the representative applications of biopolymer-derived hygroscopic materials for dehumidification, atmospheric water harvesting, and power generation. We finally provide an outlook on future challenges and present key issues worthy of attention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.