Chinese scientists develop catalyst to turn Martian air into liquid methanol fuel

Researchers at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei created a dual-site MOF-808-NaCu catalyst that converts CO2 and hydrogen from Martian ice into methanol. It produced 245 g of methanol per kg of catalyst per hour — 11 times more than copper alone — and stayed stable over 12-hour trials.

• MOF-808-NaCu catalyst yields 245 g of methanol per kg per hour
• Output is 11 times higher than with copper alone
• Methanol stays liquid at ambient temperature, unlike methane
• Lightweight compressors are still needed to capture thin Martian air