FROM SOLAR FUELS TO OXYGEN PRODUCTION ON MARS

Venue: Polo Ferrari 2, via Sommarive 9 - Room B103
At: 14:30

Prof. Vasco Guerra – Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear (IPFN) - Instituto Superior Técnico Lisboa

Abstract

There is a renewed interest on CO₂ plasmas nowadays, as their activation by selective excitation of the asymmetric stretching vibrational mode may enhance dissociation and favour CO₂ conversion at a low energy cost.
This CO₂ reforming process takes advantage of the so-called vibrational (V-V) up-pumping mechanism and can be tuned to the production of solar fuels on Earth or to the oxygen and rocket fuel production on Mars.
The current status of research on Earth and the similarities and differences with the application to Mars are discussed.

Scientific Coordinator:
prof. Paolo Tosi