Chinese scientists from Nanjing University have achieved a breakthrough in receiving oxygen, learning how to extract it from carbon dioxide (CO2). The study was published in the Journal of Science Angewandte Chemie International Edition (ACIE).
Instead of hydrogen, used by factories for photosynthesis, experts used lithium as a catalyst.
CO2 is transmitted through an electrochemical cell with nano and ruthenium and cobalt (Ruco), where it first turns into a carbonate lithium, and then into a carbon and lithium oxide.
At the end, the decomposition lithium oxide, releases pure oxygen and regenerates lithium for reuse. The effectiveness of conversion reaches 98%.
According to the authors of development, this technology can be used on earth to treat industrial emissions and smoke gas, in air purification systems and in underwater devices.
In addition, this method will allow oxygen to produce on Mars, of which the atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide.