Abstract
NASA's current mandate is to land humans on Mars by 2033. Here, we demonstrate an approach to produce ultrapure H(2) and O(2) from liquid-phase Martian regolithic brine at ∼-36 °C. Utilizing a Pb(2)Ru(2)O(7-δ) pyrochlore O(2)-evolution electrocatalyst and a Pt/C H(2)-evolution electrocatalyst, we demonstrate a brine electrolyzer with >25× the O(2) 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.