Lunar soil shows promise for in-situ oxygen and fuel production

Lunar soil shows promise for in-situ oxygen and fuel production
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 22, 2025

Scientists have developed a new method to extract water from lunar soil and use it to generate oxygen and fuel, offering a potential path toward sustainable life-support systems on the Moon. The technology, described in the Cell Press journal Joule on July 16, combines water extraction and photothermal CO2 conversion in a single step to reduce resource transport needs from Earth.

"This integrated approach exceeded our expectations," said Lu Wang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. "The one-step integration of lunar H2O extraction and photothermal CO2 catalysis could enhance energy utilization efficiency and decrease the cost and complexity of infrastructure development."

Supporting life on the Moon has long been hindered by the challenge of providing water, a critical resource with an estimated launch cost of $83,000 per gallon. With astronauts requiring roughly four gallons daily, in-situ resource utilization has become a top research priority. Lunar samples returned from the Chang'E-5 mission confirmed the presence of water-bearing minerals on the surface, reviving interest in tapping these natural reserves.

Previous strategies to extract water from lunar regolith required multiple stages and failed to integrate CO2 conversion, limiting their practicality. In contrast, the new method uses sunlight to power a photothermal reaction that not only extracts water but also transforms astronaut-exhaled CO2 into hydrogen and carbon monoxide-key precursors for producing fuel and breathable oxygen.

The team validated the concept using both actual Chang'E-5 lunar samples and simulated lunar regolith in a controlled environment. A light-focusing system drove the photothermal reactions in a reactor filled with CO2 gas. Ilmenite, a common mineral on the Moon, played a central role in absorbing solar energy and catalyzing the process.

Despite promising laboratory results, real-world deployment still faces significant hurdles. Lunar soil is highly variable in composition, and the Moon's harsh environment-characterized by extreme temperature swings, high radiation, and microgravity-may affect system performance. Additionally, the limited amount of CO2 exhaled by astronauts could constrain the system's output without further technological advances.

"Overcoming these technical hurdles and significant associated costs in development, deployment, and operation will be crucial to realizing sustainable lunar water utilization and space exploration," the authors conclude.

Research Report:Inherent lunar water enabled photothermal CO2 catalysis