Recently, Professor Wu Zhongchen from the School of Space Science and Technology at Shandong University, in collaboration with the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, SETI Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Technical Center of Qingdao Customs, and Harbin Institute of Technology, has made new progress in the study of electrochemical processes during Martian dust storms. The related research, entitled “Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen on present-day Mars during dust events,” wes published in the top international planetary science journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters (Nature Index journal, impact factor 5.1). Dr. Mao Wenshuo is the first author of the paper, with Professor Fu Xiaohui and Professor Wu Zhongchen serving as co-corresponding authors. Shandong University is listed as both the first completing institution and the independent corresponding author institution.

Nitrates currently present on Mars are generally considered to be ancient products of nitrogen fixation processes that occurred during its geological history, such as early Martian lightning, impact events, and volcanic activity. It is commonly believed that active nitrogen fixation does not occur on the present-day Martian surface.

However, dust storms, dust devils, and grain saltation frequently occur on present-day Mars. During those dust events, the lofted sand and dust particles can frictionally electrify and generate electrostatic discharges that trigger complex electrochemical reactions.

Figure 1. Electrochemical processes during present-day Martian dust storms and nitrogen fixation.

Using the Shandong University Mars chamber, the team conducted electrostatic discharge experiments under simulated Martian atmospheric. The results show that large amounts of plasma and free radicals are generated during the discharge, triggering gas-phase reactions that ultimately lead to the formation of nitrates and perchlorates. The results show that large amounts of plasma and free radicals are generated during the discharge, triggering gas-phase reactions that ultimately lead to the formation of nitrates and perchlorates. The team also found that the molar ratio of nitrate/perchlorate produced in the experiments is less than 1, which is consistent with the ratios measured in the weathered aeolian deposits of Gale Crater on Mars, but 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than those obtained from terrestrial lightning simulation experiments. This further supports that the nitrates and perchlorates present in present-day Martian aeolian deposits are formed through electrochemical processes associated with dust storms.

Figure 2. The molar NO₃⁻/ClOₓ⁻ ratios of electrochemical products are comparable to those measured in Martian soils (light blue band).

The team proposes that nitrogen fixation driven by dust-storm-related electrostatic discharges may have been continuously operating for approximately 3 billion years, resulting in the fixation of about 0.0036 mbar of atmospheric nitrogen. This study provides important insights into the interactions between the Martian atmosphere and surface materials, as well as the long-term evolution of the Martian atmosphere.

In addition, nitrogen is an essential element for all known forms of life. In both the terrestrial and Martian atmospheres, nitrogen exists primarily as stable molecular nitrogen (N₂), which is difficult for life to utilize directly. Electrochemical processes associated with Martian dust storms can convert atmospheric N₂ into nitrate, thereby providing new clues for exploring the potential existence of life on Mars.

Notably, the journal Nature reported on November 26, 2025, the in situ observations of dust storm activity by NASA’s Perseverance rover, which for the first time confirmed the occurrence of electrostatic discharges during Martian dust storms and suggested that such discharges may trigger electrochemical processes and the formation of various oxides. This not only underscores the significance of Martian dust-storm electrochemistry, but also highlights the forward-looking nature of the research strategy adopted by the team.

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation.