The team from Nanjing University in China states that this technique could prove beneficial to produce oxygen efficiently in extreme environments like Earth’s underwater and even on Mars.

Interestingly, the new device eliminates the need for the stringent pressure and temperature conditions typically required for such reactions.

“If the required power comes from renewable energy, this method paves the way toward carbon neutrality. At the same time, it is a practical, controllable method for the production of O2 from CO2 with broad application potential—from the exploration of Mars and oxygen supply for spacesuits to underwater life support, breathing masks, indoor air purification, and industrial waste treatment,” the researchers mentioned in the press release.

New method produces 98 percent oxygen

Plants use photosynthesis, converting CO2 into oxygen and glucose. The process depends on hydrogen atoms acting as mediating agents.

For years, scientists have struggled to replicate this reaction artificially under moderate conditions.

Researchers from Nanjing University, in collaboration with Fudan University, have developed a new technique to directly split CO2 into carbon and oxygen. Unlike traditional methods that rely on hydrogen, their process uses lithium as the key intermediary.

The researchers designed a novel electrochemical device to achieve the direct splitting of CO2. The device features a gas cathode with a nanoscale catalyst made of ruthenium and cobalt and a metallic lithium anode.

Here’s how it works. When CO2 is introduced into the cathode, it undergoes a two-stage electrochemical reduction facilitated by lithium. First, the CO2 reacts with lithium to form lithium carbonate (Li2CO3).

Subsequently, this lithium carbonate reacts further, resulting in the production of lithium oxide (Li2O) and elemental carbon.

Finally, through an electrocatalytic oxidation process, the generated lithium oxide (Li2O) is converted back into lithium ions, releasing oxygen gas (O2) as a byproduct. This process effectively transforms CO2 into usable carbon and oxygen.

The optimized catalyst achieves an oxygen yield of over 98.6 percent.

“Use of an optimized RuCo catalyst allows for a very high yield of O2, over 98.6 percent, significantly exceeding the efficiency of natural photosynthesis,” the team noted in the press release.

Ideal for Martian atmosphere

The newly developed CO2 splitting technology demonstrates its versatility by successfully operating not only with pure carbon dioxide but also with a range of mixed gases.

This includes simulated flue gas, which mimics industrial emissions, a mixture of CO2 and oxygen, and even a simulated Martian atmosphere.

The thin Martian atmosphere is predominantly composed of CO2 – with a pressure less than one percent of Earth’s atmospheric pressure.

To simulate this environment for testing the CO2 splitting technology, researchers created a gas mixture consisting of argon and a very low concentration (1 percent) of CO2. However, the team hasn’t disclosed the oxygen amount generated under Martian-like conditions.

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If this tech works out well, it could aid future human explorers on Mars.

Interestingly, this technology has the potential to support underwater habitats as well as the development of advanced air purification systems.

The findings were published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.