China has reportedly developed a battery that could be recharged by the atmosphere in Mars, and withstand its extreme conditions.

University of Science and Technology of China researchers released a report at the end of August, published by the Chinese journal Science Bulletin, explaining that the battery could run for more than 1,350 hours, which equated to two Martian months.

The battery can also withstand the vast difference in temperatures that can range from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to around -225 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NASA's data.

Traditionally, low temperatures result in "poor reaction interfaces and slow reaction kinetics, ultimately leading to a low capacity and cycling life" of batteries, the report said, but the new battery is able to produce up to 373.9 Watt-hour per unit mass even in the particularly cold conditions.

This is because the battery has various precautions in place to withstand both hot and freezing conditions like thermal insulation, preheating techniques, thermal radiation, and hibernation protocol, shortening the subzero temperature region, the report explained.

Explaining how the battery works to Newsweek, one of the authors of the report and researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China Xiao Xu said the Mars battery is able to use Mars atmosphere as "fuel."

This is because the active components in the planet's atmosphere include 95.32 percent carbon dioxide, 0.13 percent oxygen, and 0.08 percent carbon monoxide, which the battery can use for power.

Therefore, rather than the atmosphere being "resisted or avoided," it can be utilized by the battery, she said.

Xu told Newsweek that due to the direct utilization of local atmospheric resources and high energy density, the Mars batteries reduce mission launch costs, which she thinks will be beneficial to space missions.She added that the study offers "critical proof-of-concept for the application of Mars batteries in real Martian environments."

"This work lays a foundational step toward the development of multi-energy complementary systems for future space exploration," she said.

Xu shared that a possible challenge in further development would be being able to monitor changes in the components in the Mars atmosphere in real time when the battery operates.

The report added that the development of Mars batteries aims "to benchmark the monopolisation of secondary [lithium-ion batteries] carried in exploration devices from the 1997 American Sojourner rover to the 2021 Chinese Zhurong rover," by being able to use the atmosphere for power rather than relying on solar panels.