Photoreduction of inorganic carbon(+IV) by elemental sulfur: Implications for prebiotic synthesis in terrestrial hot springs.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Li Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7673799 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Photoreduction of inorganic carbon(+IV) by elemental sulfur: Implications for prebiotic synthesis in terrestrial hot springs.
Li Yanzhang Y Li Yan Y Liu Yi Y Wu Yifu Y Wu Junqi J Wang Bin B Ye Huan H Jia Haoning H Wang Xiao X Li Linghui L Zhu Meixiang M Ding Hongrui H Lai Yong Y Wang Changqiu C Dick Jeffrey J Lu Anhuai A
Science advances 20201118 47
Terrestrial hydrothermal systems have been proposed as alternative birthplaces for early life but lacked reasonable scenarios for the supply of biomolecules. Here, we show that elemental sulfur (S<sup>0</sup>), as the dominant mineral in terrestrial hot springs, can reduce carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) into formic acid (HCOOH) under ultraviolet (UV) light below 280 nm. The semiconducting S<sup>0</sup> is indicated to have a direct bandgap of 4.4 eV. The UV-excited S<sup>0</sup> produces photoe ...[more]
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