In space exploration, oxygen is an essential resource. It provides the air astronauts breathe and propels spacecraft by burning the fuel. However, it is not feasible to carry oxygen tanks into space. So far, the International Space Station (ISS) has produced oxygen by electrolysis of water using complex machinery.
Scientists have found a groundbreaking method to increase the rate of oxygen production in space. This involves attaching magnets to water electrolysis devices. Increasing the rate of water electrolysis is expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption and the likelihood of component failures, thereby greatly aiding long-term space exploration.
An international research team that includes the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Bremen in Germany announced on the 19th that they have succeeded in increasing the speed of water electrolysis by up to 240% compared to the existing rate using magnets, as reported in the international journal "Nature Chemistry."
Electrolysis is the process of splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen using electrical energy. The efficiency of water electrolysis on Earth is due to the buoyancy that causes bubbles to rise. The oxygen and hydrogen bubbles generated at the electrodes naturally detach and facilitate the decomposition reaction.
However, in microgravity environments like space, bubbles stick to the surface of the electrodes. This is similar to how bubbles in cola do not rise but adhere to the inside of a glass. This led to a significant reduction in oxygen production. While methods such as shaking the device or using a stirrer to mix the water have been suggested, they actually consume more energy, reducing practicality.
The research team reproduced a microgravity environment and applied neodymium magnets to the electrolysis device. As a result, the magnetic field of the magnets affected the area around the electrodes, allowing oxygen bubbles to detach more easily. The experiments showed that the decomposition efficiency could be increased to nearly the same level as that achievable on Earth. The use of a single magnet significantly improved the efficiency of water electrolysis without auxiliary devices while reducing power consumption and the risk of failure.
Although this research is still in the proof of concept stage, it is already attracting attention due to its considerable commercialization potential. If it becomes easier to decompose water in ice form on the Moon or Mars, the likelihood of self-sufficiency in oxygen, a key resource for long-term space exploration, will increase.
The research team noted, "Further experiments in actual space environments are necessary, but this will provide important clues to developing water electrolysis devices that can be used in future space travel."
References
Nature Chemistry (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01890-0