Chinese scientists at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei developed a new catalyst, combining copper and sodium on a sponge-like crystal.
The catalyst reacts with carbon dioxide, comprising over 95% of the Martian atmosphere with hydrogen which was extracted from Martian ice to produce liquid methanol.
Speaking about the lab tests and catalyst performance, the catalyst produced 11 times more methanol than copper alone while lowering unwanted by-products.
Every kilogram of the catalyst produced 245 grams of methanol per hour and maintained stable performance throughout a 12-hour test.
Space resources scientist Zhang Zhe and his colleagues wrote in a paper published online in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration, “Methanol can serve as fuel to generate electricity, provide heating and power Mars rovers, and it can also be used as a chemical building block for making antifreeze, building materials and other products.”
Here are the advantages of methanol on Mars. Unlike methane which is used by NASA and SpaceX and requires extreme cold to store, methanol remains liquid at room temperature making it safer and easier to handle.
It can generate electricity, provide heating, power rovers, and acts as a chemical building block for antifreeze and building materials.
It can also create resource independence by producing fuel locally, reducing the cost and weight of shipping supplies from Earth for long-term crewed lunar missions.
NASA/SpaceX also target methane for return rockets, China is focusing on methanol for its storage benefits.
In 2028, China has planned to launch the Tianwen-3 mission, aiming for humanity’s first Mars sample return. It also set a target date to bring at least 500 grams of Martian samples back to Earth by 2031.
