Lunar soil shows promise as a catalyst for extraterrestrial photosynthesis

Soil samples gathered by China’s Chang’E-5 spacecraft in late 2020 have been tested as catalysts for water splitting and carbon dioxide conversion. The goal is to be able to make oxygen, hydrogen and other fuels on the moon, using just materials available on site. That would reduce the need to transport chemicals from Earth, which is expensive and difficult. To achieve this, researchers working with Zhigang Zou from Nanjing University have proposed a new technology that they call extraterrestrial photosynthesis. The approach tries to maximise the use of lunar resources, including extreme temperatures and intensive sunlight.