Harvesting the Moon: Transforming Regolith Into Electronics

Lunar regolith—the loose dust and rock covering the Moon’s surface—is far more than just dirt. It is comprised of approximately 40-45% oxygen. Since 2019, the company Metalysis has collaborated with both the UK and European Space Agencies to extract this oxygen, a vital resource for rocket propulsion. However, the utility of regolith does not stop at oxygen production. Once the oxygen is removed, a mixture of conductive metal alloys remains. While companies like Space Copy and Luyten are exploring regolith for construction 3D printing, a new initiative aims to transform these metal-rich residues into inks for printing electronic circuits, and powders for printing larger objects.

Metalysis, a leader in reducing regolith into its component elements, utilizes a patented method known as molten salt electrolysis. In this process, a calcium chloride electrolyte is heated to between 800 and 1000°C. When voltage is applied between the electrodes, oxygen is liberated from the material, leaving behind metal alloys.

The researchers will utilize the magnetic properties of the regolith.

“The technology is applicable to nearly 50 elements in the periodic table, and it is feedstock agnostic – so it can process lunar regolith,” Dr. Ian Mellor, MD and chief scientist at Metalysis said. “Our immediate focus terrestrially is upon high charge tantalum powders and aluminium scandium alloys for the electronics sector.”