A NASA Spin-Off May Have Developed The Ultimate Battery
Carbon-oxygen batteries could be the future.
NASA has kickstarted some pretty fantastic technology over the years. Thanks to them, we now have flat-screen monitors, memory foam mattresses, and even the scaled-down, tiny yet mighty cameras used within our smartphones. But NASA’s latest spin-off technology promises to be the most impactful. You see, by rejigging one of NASA’s most groundbreaking experiments, MOXIE, NASA engineers have been able to make a battery that is cheaper, more eco-friendly, and more energy dense than anything before. Welcome to the incredible world of carbon-oxygen batteries.
Let’s start at the beginning. MOXIE is a NASA experiment that is part of the Perseverance Mars mission. It aimed to use a solid oxide electrolyzer cell to turn the carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere of Mars into breathable air. When given power, this cell reacts with the carbon dioxide, splitting it into carbon monoxide and oxygen, and the oxygen can then be syphoned off to be used elsewhere. In April 2021, MOXIE achieved just this and was the first device ever to create the crucial supply of oxygen needed to support a Mars base on the Red Planet.
This was a vital step in developing technology that can support human life on distant planets. But the engineers who worked on this…
