A new electrochemical device holds potential to directly split carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon and pure oxygen.
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.
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