CO₂ Fixation to Prebiotic Intermediates over Heterogeneous Catalysts

Area of Science:

• Geochemistry
• Astrobiology
• Catalysis

Background:

• The origin of life is a complex question requiring understanding of early Earth conditions.
• Hydrothermal vents are a leading hypothesis for the origin of life due to their continuous energy and chemical gradients.
• Serpentinization at vents produces reducing conditions favorable for CO2 fixation into biomolecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate heterogeneous catalysis for prebiotic chemistry at hydrothermal vents.
• To explore the use of synthetic minerals as catalysts for CO2 fixation.
• To understand the conversion of CO2 into metabolic intermediates under simulated vent conditions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of NiFe and CoFe alloy nanoparticles and SiO2-supported catalysts.
• Investigation of catalytic activity for CO2 conversion under hydrothermal vent conditions.
• Utilizing machine learning to predict catalytic selectivity.

Main Results:

• NiFe and CoFe alloy catalysts convert CO2 to metabolic intermediates like formate, acetate, and pyruvate.
• Modified catalysts produce prebiotic formamide, acetamide, methanol, and hydrocarbons.
• Catalyst modifications and support materials influence product selectivity.

Conclusions:

• Minerals at hydrothermal vents can catalyze the conversion of CO2 into key metabolites.
• This work provides a framework for understanding prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life.
• Heterogeneous catalysis offers a viable pathway for exploring early life chemistry.