Predicting the efficiency of oxygen-evolving electrolysis on the Moon and Mars

Bethany A. Lomax (), Gunter H. Just, Patrick J. McHugh, Paul K. Broadley, Gregory C. Hutchings, Paul A. Burke, Matthew J. Roy, Katharine L. Smith and Mark D. Symes ()
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Bethany A. Lomax: University of Glasgow
Gunter H. Just: University of Manchester
Patrick J. McHugh: University of Glasgow
Paul K. Broadley: University of Manchester
Gregory C. Hutchings: University of Manchester
Paul A. Burke: Space Exploration Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Matthew J. Roy: University of Manchester
Katharine L. Smith: University of Manchester
Mark D. Symes: University of Glasgow

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon or Mars requires a secure supply of oxygen for life support and refueling. The electrolysis of water has attracted significant attention in this regard as water-ice may exist on both the Moon and Mars. However, to date there has been no study examining how the lower gravitational fields on the Moon and Mars might affect gas-evolving electrolysis when compared to terrestrial conditions. Herein we provide experimental data on the effects of gravitational fields on water electrolysis from 0.166 g (lunar gravity) to 8 g (eight times the Earth’s gravity) and show that electrolytic oxygen production is reduced by around 11% under lunar gravity with our system compared to operation at 1 g. Moreover, our results indicate that electrolytic data collected using less resource-intensive ground-based experiments at elevated gravity (>1 g) may be extrapolated to gravitational levels below 1 g.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28147-5

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