Humanity is preparing to land on and explore Mars in the coming years. However, ensuring a stable energy source for the base, rovers, and other essential equipment is a top priority.
Due to the immense difficulty of transporting infrastructure to the Red Planet, researchers are seeking alternative solutions. One of these solutions is atmospheric mining batteries on Mars for fuel developed by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). The research team stated: “This method significantly reduces the weight of the battery, making it more suitable for space missions.”
Mars batteries generate electricity based on a continuous chemical reaction as long as fuel is available. (Illustrative image).
Mars is a harsh planet with a complex atmosphere filled with CO2 (95.32%), nitrogen (2.7%), argon (1.6%), oxygen (0.13%), and carbon monoxide (0.08%). The temperature difference between day and night on the Red Planet can reach around 60 degrees Celsius.
The USTC team explained that the battery they developed utilizes gases in the atmosphere similarly to fuel cells used on Earth (which convert the chemical energy of fuel into electricity). Instead of storing energy like conventional batteries, the Mars battery generates electricity based on a continuous chemical reaction as long as fuel is available.
During the discharge process, the electrodes of the battery interact with gases that produce chemical reactions to generate electricity. When depleted, the battery can be recharged using solar or nuclear energy to maintain performance.
The battery can withstand significant temperature variations and can operate continuously for several months with a charge/discharge cycle of 1,375 hours (equivalent to about 2 months on Mars). According to tests conducted by the USTC team, the battery still functions well at 0 degrees Celsius with an energy density of 373.9 Wh/kg.
The team explained: “The charge/discharge process involves the formation and decomposition of lithium carbonate, with small amounts of oxygen and carbon monoxide acting as catalysts that significantly accelerate the conversion of CO2.” They aim to increase the amount of interacting gas to improve both performance and battery capacity.
The battery is designed to be foldable, allowing for a larger surface area to capture more gas. The team increased the size of the battery cell to 4 cm² to enhance energy density. Future directions will focus on developing solid-state batteries that can withstand low pressure and temperature fluctuations.
