CO2 into battery power? China to turn emissions into energy for Mars rovers, robots

Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have developed a new catalyst for lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO2) batteries that could power Mars rovers and help reduce carbon emissions. The improved cathode design using molybdenum disulfide and cobalt pentlandite increases the battery's energy efficiency to over 81%. Li-CO2 batteries offer up to 10 times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, making them suitable for aerospace applications. While promising, further improvements to the electrolyte, anode, and safety features are needed before commercial deployment.