Extraterrestrial Photosynthesis by Chang’E-5 Lunar Soil

In light of significant effort conducted to manned deep space exploration, it is of high technological importance and scientific interest to develop the lunar life supporting system for long-term exploration and exploitation. And lunar in situ resource utilization offers great opportunity to provide the material basis of life supporting for lunar habitation and traveling. Based on the analysis of the structure and composition, the Chang’E-5 lunar soil sample was used for lunar-surface solar energy conversion, i.e. the extraterrestrial photosynthesis catalysts. By evaluating the performance of the Chang’E-5 lunar sample as photovoltaic-driven electrocatalyst, photocatalyst and photothermal catalysts, the full water splitting and CO2 conversion are able to be achieved with solar energy, water and lunar soil, with a wide range of product distribution, including O2, H2, CO, CH4 and CH3OH. Thus, we propose a potentially available extraterrestrial photosynthesis pathway on the moon, which could help us to achieve a ‘zero-energy consumption’ environment and life support system on the moon.