The case for in situ resource utilisation for oxygen production on Mars by non-equilibrium plasmas

Herein, it is argued that Mars has nearly ideal conditions for CO2 decomposition by non-equilibrium plasmas. It is shown that the pressure and temperature ranges in the ∼ 96 % CO2 Martian atmosphere favour the vibrational excitation and subsequent up-pumping of the asymmetric stretching mode, which...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plasma sources science & technology 2017-10, Vol.26 (11), p.11
Main Authors: Guerra, Vasco, Silva, Tiago, Ogloblina, Polina, Grofulovi, Marija, Terraz, Loann, Silva, Mário Lino da, Pintassilgo, Carlos D, Alves, Luís L, Guaitella, Olivier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
dissociation
gas discharge
in situ resource utilisation
Mars
oxygen production
Physics
plasma
Plasma Physics
vibrational kinetics
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Summary:Herein, it is argued that Mars has nearly ideal conditions for CO2 decomposition by non-equilibrium plasmas. It is shown that the pressure and temperature ranges in the ∼ 96 % CO2 Martian atmosphere favour the vibrational excitation and subsequent up-pumping of the asymmetric stretching mode, which is believed to be a key factor for an efficient plasma dissociation, at the expense of the excitation of the other modes. Therefore, gas discharges operating at atmospheric pressure on Mars are extremely strong candidates to produce O2 efficiently from the locally available resources.
ISSN:0963-0252
1361-6595
1361-6595
DOI:10.1088/1361-6595/aa8dcc