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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Production of cementitious materials from Martian regolith has not been demonstrated. Production of cements on Earth is energy-intensive and emits greenhouse gases. Ionic liquids will be used in this effort. They do not require much heat, electrolytic hydrolysis requires low voltage, and carbonates are not necessary. Expected spin-off to terrestrial cement manufacturing.
Removing the need to launch construction materials from Earth to planetary surfaces, by producing them in-situ, will significantly reduce mission cost and provide the ability to build infrastructure elements on-demand. Additionally, this method of producing sodium silicate using ILs with relatively low energy and no toxic byproducts would be useful to the water-glass industry on Earth. Because ILs have a very low vapor pressure and thus low flammability, they are safer and easier to handle than conventional reagents
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