Remote sensing detection has found that water (OH/H₂O) is ubiquitous on the lunar surface. However, due to the lack of direct sample analysis evidence, the origin and distribution of lunar surface water has been controversial.

Mineral water content and hydrogen isotope ratios

Recently, the research team of the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has carried out research on the lunar soil samples of Chang'e 5. Through infrared spectroscopy and nano-ion probe analysis, it is found that there is a large amount of solar wind-derived water in the mineral surface of Chang'e 5, and it is estimated that the solar wind proton injection The water content contributed to the Chang'e-5 lunar soil is at least 170ppm.

TEM image of Chang'e-5 mineral surface microstructure

Combined with transmission electron microscopy and energy spectrum analysis, it was revealed that the formation and preservation of solar wind-derived water were mainly affected by the exposure time, crystal structure and composition of minerals. The study confirms that lunar surface minerals are important "reservoirs" of water, and provides an important reference for the distribution of water in the mid-latitudes of the lunar surface. The results were recently published in the international academic journal Nature Communications.