Electrolysis in Reduced Gravitational Environments: Current Research Perspectives and Future Applications

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 (photo)-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