近日，英国华威大学Katharina Brinkert团队揭示磁感应对流增强了微重力条件下的水电解。相关论文发表在2025年8月18日出版的《自然-化学》杂志上。

自太空探索早期以来，通过水电解高效生产氧气和氢气一直是再生生命维持系统的核心任务。然而，在微重力条件下，水电解槽几乎没有浮力，这会阻碍气泡从电极上脱离，降低电解效率。

研究组展示了商业钕磁铁通过利用电解质的磁极化和磁流体动力，在微重力下提高了水的电解电流密度高达240%。他们证明了这些相互作用通过磁对流增强了气泡的分离和位移，并实现了被动气液分离。两个模型磁电解电池，一个质子交换膜电解槽和一个磁流体动力驱动器，被设计用来利用这些力，在微重力下以接近地球的效率生产氧气和氢气。总的来说，这项工作强调了可实现的、轻量的、低维护的和节能的相分离和电解槽技术，以支持未来的人类航天架构。

附：英文原文

Title: Magnetically induced convection enhances water electrolysis in microgravity

Author: Akay, mer, Monfort-Castillo, Maci, St Francis, Theo, Becker, Julian, Saravanabavan, Shaumica, Romero-Calvo, lvaro, Brinkert, Katharina

Issue&Volume: 2025-08-18

Abstract: Since the early days of space exploration, the efficient production of oxygen and hydrogen via water electrolysis has been a central task for regenerative life-support systems. Water electrolysers are, however, challenged by the near-absence of buoyancy in microgravity, resulting in hindered gas bubble detachment from electrodes and diminished electrolysis efficiencies. Here we show that a commercial neodymium magnet enhances water electrolysis with current density improvements of up to 240% in microgravity by exploiting the magnetic polarization of the electrolyte and the magnetohydrodynamic force. We demonstrate that these interactions enhance gas bubble detachment and displacement through magnetic convection and achieve passive gas–liquid phase separation. Two model magnetoelectrolytic cells, a proton-exchange membrane electrolyser and a magnetohydrodynamic drive, were designed to leverage these forces and produce oxygen and hydrogen at near-terrestrial efficiencies in microgravity. Overall, this work highlights achievable, lightweight, low-maintenance and energy-efficient phase separation and electrolyser technologies to support future human spaceflight architectures.

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-025-01890-0

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01890-0