Nano-FTIR spectroscopic identification of prebiotic carbonyl compounds in Dominion Range 08006 carbonaceous chondrite

Abstract

Meteorites contain organic matter that may have contributed to the origin of life on Earth. Carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and carboxylic acids, which occur in meteorites, may be precursors of biologically necessary organic materials in the solar system. Therefore, such organic matter is of astrobiological importance and their detection and characterization can contribute to the understanding of the early solar system as well as the origin of life. Most organic matter is typically sub-micrometer in size, and organic nanoglobules are even smaller (50–300 nm). Novel analytical techniques with nanoscale spatial resolution are required to detect and characterize organic matter within extraterrestrial materials. Most techniques require powdered samples, consume the material, and lose petrographic context of organics. Here, we report the detection of nanoglobular aldehyde and carboxylic acids in a highly primitive carbonaceous chondrite (DOM 08006) with ~ 20 nm spatial resolution using nano-FTIR spectroscopy. Such organic matter is found within the matrix of DOM 08006 and is typically 50–300 nm in size. We also show petrographic context and nanoscale morphologic/topographic features of the organic matter. Our results indicate that prebiotic carbonyl nanoglobules can form in a less aqueous and relatively elevated temperature-environment (220–230 °C) in a carbonaceous parent body.

Nanoscale Infrared Characterization of Dark Clasts and Fine-Grained Rims in CM2 Chondrites: Aguas Zarcas and Jbilet Winselwan

“…It was recently used to detect nanoscale carbonyl compounds in a primitive CO3 chondrite. 80 In this current work, nano-FTIR spectra of FGRs and dark clasts show that they are chemically heterogeneous at a submicron scale, and some rims contain organic molecules in addition to hydrated minerals. It is currently unknown whether the organics observed in the Aguas Zarcas FGRs are nebular in origin; however, it is plausible that organics could have formed in the solar nebula via surface polymerization in the icy mantles of dust grains, mixed with dust, and became incorporated along with the FGRsaround the chondrules before undergoing planetary thermal processing.…”

“…Nano-FTIR spectroscopy is a powerful and nondestructive analytical technique for the investigation of samples including carbonaceous chondrites and their fine-grained components. It offers a spatial resolution of ∼20 nm. ,− This technique does not require powdered or chemically processed samples nor does it alter samples in any way, thus fully preserving the petrographic context, and it is independent of the optical diffraction limit. It was recently used to detect nanoscale carbonyl compounds in a primitive CO3 chondrite .…”

“…It offers a spatial resolution of ∼20 nm. ,− This technique does not require powdered or chemically processed samples nor does it alter samples in any way, thus fully preserving the petrographic context, and it is independent of the optical diffraction limit. It was recently used to detect nanoscale carbonyl compounds in a primitive CO3 chondrite . In this current work, nano-FTIR spectra of FGRs and dark clasts show that they are chemically heterogeneous at a submicron scale, and some rims contain organic molecules in addition to hydrated minerals.…”

“…During each spectral measurement, the AFM tip scans the surface and creates multiple images, each representing a different property of the surface. Mechanical amplitude and optical amplitude images are among the most commonly used among scientists and the most meaningful images for interpretation. ,− These amplitude images represent topography (i.e., the height of the AFM tip relative to the sample surface) and reflectivity (i.e., broadband reflectivity integrated across the full wavelength range), respectively. In some cases, the studied region is better visualized/characterized when the two amplitude images are overlaid onto each other.…”

Nanoscale mineralogy and organic structure in Orgueil (CI) and EET 92042 (CR) carbonaceous chondrites studied with AFM‐IR spectroscopy

“…This method is based on the coupling between atomic force microscopy and IR laser sources, which provides an opportunity to break the diffraction limit (Dazzi et al, 2005(Dazzi et al, , 2012. This technique has been already applied to extraterrestrial samples (Kebukawa et al, 2018;Mathurin et al, 2019;Yesiltas et al, 2021). Here, we present results obtained using atomic force microscope-infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy on two raw matrix meteorite samples, compared to those obtained on IOM extracted by hydrogen fluoride/hydrochloric acid (HF/HCl) digestion.…”