Investigating the Selectivity of CO2 Hydrogenation to Ethylene in a Plasma Reactor for Mars ISRU

As space exploration progresses, ensuring sustainability in extraterrestrial environments, particularly for human missions to Mars, becomes essential. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) strategies harness local resources, such as abundant carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Martian atmosphere and water (H2O) from ice deposits, to produce high-value products like ethylene. Ethylene is crucial for polyethylene production, enabling additive manufacturing of tools and spare parts. Current technologies, including the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) and Sabatier Reaction Systems, have successfully demonstrated CO2 conversion. However, a method for ethylene production has yet to be developed. This project builds from prior efforts at the Aerospace Plasma Group, including an ongoing NASA STTR award. The specific contributions of this fellowship will be experimenting with non-thermal plasma technology for efficient ethylene synthesis, capitalizing on its potential for CO2 conversion under Martian conditions. By applying a high reduced electric field in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor, we will induce electron impact reactions to facilitate CO2 dissociation. However, the presence of atomic oxygen following CO2 dissociation hinders ethylene production. The integration of advanced materials within plasma reactors--such as oxygen-permeation membranes and metal catalysts--could enhance CO2 conversion and create a chemically reactive environment conducive to ethylene generation. Specifically, this research will include a comprehensive catalyst selection study, focusing on copper-based catalysts to optimize ethylene yield while addressing challenges related to catalyst deactivation in plasma environments. Similarly, this research will analyze oxygen removal rate from the plasma reactor using residual gas analysis and other material characterization techniques to assess CO2 selectivity. Ultimately, this project seeks to develop a modular reactor system that efficiently combines membrane separation and catalysis, advancing ISRU capabilities for future Mars missions and broader terrestrial applications through experimentation and kinetic modeling efforts.

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