Experiments on parabolic flight test oxygen-evolving electrolysis

The advance from the Universities of Manchester and Glasgow is said to provide valuable insights into establishing human habitats away from Earth.

Electrolysis can be used to extract oxygen out of lunar rocks or to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This can be useful for life support systems and in-situ production of rocket propellant.

Lower gravitational fields on the Moon (1/6^th of Earth’s gravity) and Mars (1/3^rd of Earth’s gravity) and their impact on gas-evolving electrolysis compared to conditions on Earth have not been investigated in detail. Lower gravity can have a significant impact on electrolysis efficiency, as bubbles can remain stuck to electrode surfaces and create a resistive layer.

Lava tubes considered for human habitation on moon

Bacterial route to mother-of-pearl may provide shelter for lunar explorers

Moondust heater could keep astronauts warm on the lunar surface

New research published in Nature Communications demonstrates how the researchers undertook experiments to determine how the potentially life-sustaining electrolysis method acted in reduced gravity conditions.