The researchers received a $1.7 million, four-year National Science Foundation grant to develop the desiccant as a more energy-efficient method to remove moisture from buildings. Cui envisions that inside a building’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, the desiccant would coat a rotating cylinder and absorb moisture from air during part of a rotation. “Our goal is to develop the desiccant to help dehumidify and cool buildings more efficiently than conventional air-conditioning systems and lower carbon emissions significantly,” Cui said. The thermo-responsive desiccant can make air conditioning more energy efficient by separating the dehumidification and heat removal processes and improving the most energy-consuming steps. “She wants to make a difference, and with her industry partnership, she will take the thermo-responsive polymer to the next level.”