Electrolysis in reduced gravitational environments: current research perspectives and future applications
Open accessAbstract
Electrochemical energy conversion technologies play a crucial role in space missions, for example, in the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) on the International Space Station (ISS). They are also vitally important for future long-term space travel for oxygen, fuel and chemical production, where a re-supply of resources from Earth is not possible. Here, we provide an overview of currently existing electrolytic energy conversion technologies for space applications such as proton exchange membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyzer systems. We discuss the governing interfacial processes in these devices influenced by reduced gravitation and provide an outlook on future applications of electrolysis systems in, e.g., in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies. A perspective of computational modelling to predict the impact of the reduced gravitational environment on governing electrochemical processes is also discussed and experimental suggestions to better understand efficiency-impacting processes such as gas bubble formation and detachment in reduced gravitational environments are outlined.
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A PEM electrolyzer with 13-cell stack could produce 2.3-9.2 kg O2 per day.
“and a PEM electrolyzer with 13-cell stack could produce 2.3-9.2 kg O2 per day. 36”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [36]
The PEM electrolyzer could work at lower temperatures and exhibit higher power density, leading to higher efficiency.
“The PEM electrolyzer could work at lower temperatures and exhibit higher power density, leading to higher efficiency”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [36]
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References 94 · Cited by 40
Research works printed but not linked: 8
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- Authors
- Akay, Ö., Bashkatov, A., Coy, E., Eckert, K., Einarsrud, K. E., Friedrich, A., Kimmel, B., Loos, S., Mutschke, G., Röntzsch, L., Symes, M. D., Yang, X., & Brinkert, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Bremen (DE)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (DE)
- Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (PL)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (DE)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Brinkert, Katharina
- ORCID
- Venue
- npj Microgravity
- Published
- 2022-12-05
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 56-56
- ISSN
- 2373-8065 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9722834
- OpenAlex
- W4310673774
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 94
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- npj Microgravity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- elib (German Aerospace Center) (acceptedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Fraunhofer-Publica (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) (submittedVersion)
- Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Universitätsbibliothek der FU Berlin Hochschulschriftenstelle u. Dokumentenserver (cc-by)
- Funders
- European Space Agency
- German Aerospace Center
- German Aerospace Agency
- National Science Centre of Poland, OPUS program
- Royal Society (UF150104)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Fuel Cells and Related Materials
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Energy Engineering and Power Technology › Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Keywords
- electrolysis, reduced gravity, microgravity, space applications, proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, alkaline electrolyzer, in-situ resource utilization, oxygen production, fuel production, bubble formation, bubble detachment, interfacial processes, computational modelling, International Space Station, environmental control and life support systems
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