NOVEL APPROACH TO THE ELECTROLYSIS OF OXIDES

ELECTROLYSIS OF LUNAR OXIDES DISSOLVED IN A MOLTEN ELECTROLYTE IS A PROMISING APPROACH TO PRODUCING OXYGEN ON THE MOON FOR PROPULSION AND SUSTAINING HUMAN LIFE. MOLTEN FLUORIDES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE ELECTROLYTES IN THE PAST, BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIVELY LOW MELTING POINT AND THEIR HIGH SPECIFIC ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY. A PROPERLY SELECTED ALL-OXIDE ELECTROLYTE MAY HAVE SIMILAR BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES AND ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES IN CRITICAL AREAS OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS. THIS PROJECT THUS INVOLVES THE STUDY OF OXIDE MELTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE ELECTROLYSIS OF OXIDE MIXTURES AS THEY OCCUR IN READILY AVAILABLE LUNAR RESOURCES. ELECTROLYSIS OF LUNAR OXIDES DISSOLVED IN A MOLTEN ELECTROLYTE IS A PROMISING APPROACH TO PRODUCING OXYGEN ON THE MOON FOR PROPULSION AND SUSTAINING HUMAN LIFE. MOLTEN FLUORIDES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE ELECTROLYTES IN THE PAST, BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIVELY LOW MELTING POINT AND THEIR HIGH SPECIFIC ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY. A PROPERLY SELECTED ALL-OXIDE ELECTROLYTE MAY HAVE SIMILAR BENEFICIAL PROPERTIES AND ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES IN CRITICAL AREAS OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS. THIS PROJECT THUS INVOLVES THE STUDY OF OXIDE MELTS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE ELECTROLYSIS OF OXIDE MIXTURES AS THEY OCCUR IN READILY AVAILABLE LUNAR RESOURCES.