Overview

• Researchers used Chang’e-5 regolith samples in a photothermal reactor to harness sunlight for simultaneous water extraction and CO₂ conversion into oxygen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
• The one-step approach improves energy utilization and could replace Earth-to-Moon water shipments that cost up to $22,000 per litre by reducing infrastructure complexity.
• Results published July 16 in Joule represent the first peer-reviewed demonstration of combined lunar water harvesting and CO₂ catalysis in a single device.
• Engineers must address extreme temperature swings, intense radiation, variable soil composition and limited on-site CO₂ before deploying the technology on the Moon.
• Successfully scaling the reactor will be key to supporting sustainable human outposts on the lunar surface and enabling future deep-space missions.