Researchers are working on sustainable technology to harvest solar power in space – which could supplement life support systems on the Moon and In a study published in
The research led by the These “artificial photosynthesis devices” undergo the same processes which keep plants alive on Earth – they convert water into oxygen using only sunlight whilst recycling carbon dioxide. These integrated systems have the advantage of directly using solar power and could save on weight on long-term space travels in comparison to traditional systems currently in use on the
Assistant Professor Katharina Brinkert, Department of Chemistry, said: “Human space exploration faces the same challenges as the green energy transition on Earth: both require sustainable energy sources. With sunlight being so abundantly available in space, we have shown how this source could be used to harvest energy – much like plants back on Earth – for life support systems for long-term space travel. The technology could provide ample oxygen production and carbon dioxide recycling on both Moon and Mars.”
Associate Professor Sophia Haussener, at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, added: “In this study, we finally quantify the potential of such devices for extra-terrestrial use and provide initial design guidelines for their potential implementation.”
Reference: “Assessment of the technological viability of photoelectrochemical devices for oxygen and fuel production on Moon and Mars” by Byron Ross, Sophia Haussener and Katharina Brinkert, 6 June 2023, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38676-2
The research project was funded by the