On Earth, thanks to many plants, we have the oxygen we need for life, but if we leave our planet and go to the International Space Station or the Moon, for example, we are forced to produce it ourselves. They are currently working on developing devices that mimic photosynthesis in plants, producing oxygen from sunlight and water. the Nature Communications New publication in a scientific journal In the study They showed that the new technology could work on the moon and even on Mars.
Currently, electrolysis is the most common method for extracting oxygen from water, but this process requires electricity. Taking inspiration from plants, oxygen can be produced from water and sunlight through artificial photosynthesis using semiconductor materials coated with metal catalysts. This method does not require electricity.
Similar technologies that currently exist include, for example, MOXIE (Experimenting with the use of Martian oxygen resources in situ), Melissa (A partial ecological life support system is an alternative) and electrolysis of lunar regolith. Although these are all interesting and encouraging solutions, they are scientifically and technologically complex. The operation of MOXIE requires a very high reaction temperature, which is why it consumes a lot of energy, and an atmospheric pressure of 0.7 bar is also required, because without this, carbon deposits can occur, compromising its operation. MELiSSA is a closed life support system that can produce food, water and oxygen. However, such a closed system is only as good as its weakest part, so the entire system must be particularly efficient and properly maintained. PEC (photoelectricity) works with artificial photosynthesis pv (literally) The system requires no supervision and can be operated at room temperature, so it can also be installed in living quarters. In addition, it has already been shown to work efficiently even in microgravity.
According to ESA engineer Brigitte Lamaze, since we have already found water on the Moon and Mars, this research paves the way for the development of alternative devices with which future astronauts can breathe pure oxygen as they explore. Finding more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to produce a fraction of the life-giving conditions on Earth (from available resources) is a promising step towards eventually creating a complete ecosystem.
The research team calculated that artificial photosynthesis would work even on Mars, where solar radiation is less intense since it orbits farther from the sun. In addition, you should also consider that a Martian year is twice as long as an Earth year, so Martian winters are much longer than what we are used to on Earth. In order to work on Mars, it is necessary to develop systems that work even with little solar radiation, otherwise the equipment for artificial photosynthesis will be unusable for several months. By collecting sunlight using simple solar mirrors, efficiency can be increased and more oxygen can be produced. Years of extensive research are still needed before the technology can be used in space, but the system could be improved by copying basic components of the natural photosynthesis process, and the new study backs that up.
Space exploration requires renewable energy, which has direct benefits here on Earth as well. The new technologies and knowledge we gain while designing and developing artificial photosynthesis devices can also help achieve Earth’s green energy goals and sustainable development.
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Cover photo: International Space Station (ISS) solar cells (Source: NASA/ESA-T. Pesquet)
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