Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth
The evolution of the early atmosphere was driven by changes in its chemical composition, which involved the formation of some critical gases. In this study, we demonstrate that nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) can be produced from Miller’s early atmosphere (a mixture of CH<sub>4</...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/9/1310 |
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| author | Chuchu Cheng Fangjie Xu Wenwen Shi Qiaoyun Wang Caijin Huang |
| author_facet | Chuchu Cheng Fangjie Xu Wenwen Shi Qiaoyun Wang Caijin Huang |
| author_sort | Chuchu Cheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The evolution of the early atmosphere was driven by changes in its chemical composition, which involved the formation of some critical gases. In this study, we demonstrate that nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) can be produced from Miller’s early atmosphere (a mixture of CH<sub>4</sub>, NH<sub>3</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>, and H<sub>2</sub>O) by way of photocatalysis. Both NH<sub>3</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O were indispensable for the production of N<sub>2</sub>O by photocatalysis. Different conditions related to seawater and reaction temperature are also explored. N<sub>2</sub>O has a strong greenhouse gas effect, which is more able to warm the Earth than other gases and offers a reasonable explanation for the faint young Sun paradox on the early Earth. Moreover, the decomposition of N<sub>2</sub>O into N<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub> can be boosted by soft irradiation, providing a possible and important origin of atmospheric O<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>. The occurrence of O<sub>2</sub> propelled the evolution of the atmosphere from being fundamentally reducing to oxidizing. This work describes a possible vital contribution of photocatalysis to the evolution of the early atmosphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:56:21Z |
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| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:56:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7ae2fd0a00514f9f9fa4dfb38b60f0d12023-11-19T09:58:40ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442023-09-01139131010.3390/catal13091310Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early EarthChuchu Cheng0Fangjie Xu1Wenwen Shi2Qiaoyun Wang3Caijin Huang4State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, ChinaThe evolution of the early atmosphere was driven by changes in its chemical composition, which involved the formation of some critical gases. In this study, we demonstrate that nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) can be produced from Miller’s early atmosphere (a mixture of CH<sub>4</sub>, NH<sub>3</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>, and H<sub>2</sub>O) by way of photocatalysis. Both NH<sub>3</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O were indispensable for the production of N<sub>2</sub>O by photocatalysis. Different conditions related to seawater and reaction temperature are also explored. N<sub>2</sub>O has a strong greenhouse gas effect, which is more able to warm the Earth than other gases and offers a reasonable explanation for the faint young Sun paradox on the early Earth. Moreover, the decomposition of N<sub>2</sub>O into N<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub> can be boosted by soft irradiation, providing a possible and important origin of atmospheric O<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>. The occurrence of O<sub>2</sub> propelled the evolution of the atmosphere from being fundamentally reducing to oxidizing. This work describes a possible vital contribution of photocatalysis to the evolution of the early atmosphere.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/9/1310origin of O<sub>2</sub>nitrous oxidefaint young sun paradoxphotocatalysisearly earth |
| spellingShingle | Chuchu Cheng Fangjie Xu Wenwen Shi Qiaoyun Wang Caijin Huang Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth Catalysts origin of O<sub>2</sub> nitrous oxide faint young sun paradox photocatalysis early earth |
| title | Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth |
| title_full | Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth |
| title_fullStr | Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth |
| title_short | Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth |
| title_sort | photocatalysis a possible vital contributor to the evolution of the prebiotic atmosphere and the warming of the early earth |
| topic | origin of O<sub>2</sub> nitrous oxide faint young sun paradox photocatalysis early earth |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/9/1310 |
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