• UGI USER
  • Nov 19, 2023
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AI-DRIVEN OXYGEN PRODUCTION FROM MARTIAN METEORITES

Why in the News ?

  • Researchers have harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to create oxygen-producing materials from meteorites found on Mars.
  • This breakthrough, featured in Nature Synthesis, presents a proof of concept for generating oxygen and holds implications for future manned missions to Mars, where oxygen is vital for various applications.

Source: Australian Academy of Science

Oxygen Requirements for Mars Missions

  • Human Activities on Mars:
    • Oxygen is essential for human activities on Mars, used in rocket propellants and life support systems.
  • Cost-Effective Approaches:
    • To enhance the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of future Mars missions, leveraging resources present on the planet for oxygen production is explored.

AI-Powered Chemistry

  • Robotic AI-Chemist Development:
    • Scientists, led by Jun Jiang from the University of Science and Technology of China, developed a robotic AI-chemist capable of creating catalysts for oxygen production.
  • Machine Learning Model:
    • The AI-chemist employs a machine-learning model derived from both first-principles data and experimental measurements.

Utilising Martian Resources

  • Meteorite Analysis:
    • The AI-chemist analyzed meteorites from Mars to identify suitable catalysts, categorizing them into five groups.
  • Automated Catalyst Synthesis:
    • The AI-chemist automated the synthesis of catalysts from these meteorites, a process that could have taken 2,000 years of human labour.

Catalyst Performance

  • Optimal Catalyst Identification:
    • The robotic AI-chemist identified the optimal catalyst formula, showcasing its ability to operate under simulated Martian conditions.
  • Operational Feasibility:
    • The synthesized catalyst demonstrated operational feasibility, producing oxygen at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for an extended duration.

 Implications 

  • Automated Synthesis for Mars Exploration:

The researchers highlight the potential of AI-driven chemistry for the automated synthesis of chemicals and materials crucial for Mars exploration.

The study concludes that this AI-driven approach could pave the way for humans to produce oxygen on Mars, emphasizing the role of the robotic AI-chemist in this future endeavor.