Researchers in China have developed a pioneering robot chemist powered by artificial intelligence (AI), with the potential to extract oxygen from water on Mars. The robot utilizes materials found on the red planet to produce catalysts capable of breaking down water and releasing oxygen. This innovative approach could complement existing oxygen-generating technologies on Mars or even pave the way for the development of other catalysts capable of synthesizing essential resources.
The study, led by Jun Jiang at the University of Science and Technology of China, utilized a mobile machine with a robotic arm, the size of a refrigerator, to analyze meteorites simulating the Martian surface. The team aimed to determine if the machine could generate useful catalysts from these materials.
The AI-powered system employed acid and alkali to dissolve and separate the material, followed by an analysis of the resulting compounds. This data served as the foundation for a search of over 3.7 million chemical formulae, seeking a catalyst capable of breaking down water—an arduous task that would have taken a human researcher 2,000 years. The outcome was an oxygen-evolution reaction catalyst with the potential for use in future Mars missions.
Jiang stated, “We have developed a robotic AI system that has a chemistry brain. We think our machine can make use of compounds in Martian ores without human guidance.” If successful, this approach could eliminate the need for missions to carry oxygen-producing catalysts from Earth.
The envisioned catalyst could yield nearly 60 grams of oxygen per hour for every square meter of Martian material. This autonomous system could operate continuously for years, potentially reducing the reliance on oxygen transported from Earth for future manned missions to Mars.
Showcases the innovative potential of AI and robotics
While this development showcases the innovative potential of AI and robotics in extraterrestrial resource utilization, some experts emphasize existing solutions. Michael Hecht, lead investigator of NASA’s Perseverance rover’s Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE), notes that MOXIE has successfully produced oxygen from the Martian air, primarily composed of carbon dioxide. Although MOXIE’s current production is modest, a scaled-up version could meet the oxygen needs for human settlements and even provide oxidizer for rocket fuel.
Hecht highlights MOXIE’s capability to produce two to three kilograms of oxygen per hour, underscoring its scalability. Despite the promising AI-powered robot chemist, Hecht suggests that proven technologies like MOXIE offer more straightforward and effective solutions for oxygen production on Mars.
Jiang, however, envisions broader applications for their robotic chemist, proposing its potential use in generating other useful catalysts on Mars, such as those needed for fertilizing plants. Beyond Mars, he suggests that the AI-powered system could find utility in lunar soil and possibly extend its applications to other terrestrial endeavors.
The use of AI to synthesize materials represents a novel and versatile research area, with implications extending beyond space exploration. According to Andy Cooper, a chemist at the University of Liverpool, this emerging method of using AI holds broader applicability in various fields of chemistry, not limited to catalysis and oxygen production.
In conclusion, while the AI-powered robot chemist presents an exciting prospect for future Mars missions, experts weigh the trade-offs and emphasize the importance of leveraging proven technologies to address immediate challenges, with an eye on the broader applications of AI in the field of chemistry.
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Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03522-4
