Nanoscale Anatomy of Iron-Silica Self-Organized Membranes: Implications for Prebiotic Chemistry

摘要: Iron-silica self-organized membranes, so-called chemical gardens, behave as fuel cells and catalyze the formation of amino/carboxylic acids RNA nucleobases from organics that were available on early Earth. Despite their relevance for prebiotic chemistry, little is known about structure mineralogy at nanoscale. Studied here are focused ion beam milled sections iron-silica grown synthetic natural, alkaline, serpentinization-derived fluids thought to be widespread Electron microscopy shows they comprise amorphous silica iron nanoparticles large surface areas inter/intraparticle porosities. Their construction resembles a heterogeneous catalyst, but can also exhibit bilayer structure. Surface-area measurements suggest membranes natural waters have even higher catalytic potential. Considering geochemically plausible precipitation in hydrothermal systems where abiotic produced, might assisted generation organization first biologically relevant organics.