NASA’s current mandate is to land humans on Mars by 2033. Here, we demonstrate an approach to produce ultrapure H₂ and O₂ from liquid-phase Martian regolithic brine at ∼−36 °C. Utilizing a Pb₂Ru₂O_7−δ pyrochlore O₂-evolution electrocatalyst and a Pt/C H₂-evolution electrocatalyst, we demonstrate a brine electrolyzer with >25× the O₂ production rate of the Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) from NASA’s Mars 2020 mission for the same input power under Martian terrestrial conditions. Given the Phoenix lander’s observation of an active water cycle on Mars and the extensive presence of perchlorate salts that depress water’s freezing point to ∼−60 °C, our approach provides a unique pathway to life-support and fuel production for future human missions to Mars.

美国宇航局目前的任务是到2033年使人类登陆火星。在这里，我们展示了一种在约-36°C的温度下从液相火星再水系巨石盐水生产超纯H ₂和O ₂的方法。利用一个Pb ₂的Ru ₂ ö _7-δ烧绿石ö ₂ -evolution电和Pt / CH ₂ -evolution电催化剂，我们展示了盐水与电解槽> 25×将O ₂在火星地面条件下，对于相同的输入功率，来自NASA的2020年火星任务的火星氧气原位资源利用实验（MOXIE）的生产率。鉴于凤凰号着陆器观测到的火星水循环活跃，并且高氯酸盐盐的存在将水的冰点降低至-60°C，我们的方法为未来人类执行火星任务提供了生命支持和燃料生产的独特途径。