Hollow organic globules in the Tagish Lake meteorite as possible products of primitive organic reactions

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelko Nakamura ◽  
Michael E. Zolensky ◽  
Satoshi Tomita ◽  
Satoru Nakashima ◽  
Kazushige Tomeoka
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Reaction ◽  
Carbonaceous Chondrite ◽  
Laboratory Simulation ◽  
Aqueous Processing ◽  
Hydrous Minerals ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Interstellar Ice ◽  
Ultraviolet Photolysis ◽  
Extraterrestrial Material

We report the first in situ observation of hollow organic globules in any extraterrestrial material using the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite. Data from analytical transmission electron microscopy, Raman and micro-Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicate that the globules consist of aliphatic and oxygenated functions. The hollow spherical morphologies are strikingly similar to the material produced by the laboratory simulation of ultraviolet photolysis of interstellar ice analogues and subsequent aqueous processing, suggesting that the organic globules in the Tagish Lake meteorite may be extremely primitive organic material that formed before or during the formation of the solar system. The FTIR organic signatures also show strong similarities to the membrane-like products formed from hydrothermal reaction of an OH-bearing amino acid in the presence of hydrous minerals. The survival of the structures in the Tagish Lake sample indicates that primitive meteorites must have delivered these structures to the early Earth as a possible precursor to life.

scholarly journals Discovery of primitive CO2-bearing fluid in an aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrite

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (17) ◽  
pp. eabg9707
Author(s):  
Akira Tsuchiyama ◽  
Akira Miyake ◽  
Satoshi Okuzumi ◽  
Akira Kitayama ◽  
Jun Kawano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Carbonaceous Chondrite ◽  
Parent Body ◽  
Carbonaceous Chondrites ◽  
Hydrous Minerals ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
Orbital Instability

Water is abundant as solid ice in the solar system and plays important roles in its evolution. Water is preserved in carbonaceous chondrites as hydroxyl and/or H2O molecules in hydrous minerals, but has not been found as liquid. To uncover such liquid, we performed synchrotron-based x-ray computed nanotomography and transmission electron microscopy with a cryo-stage of the aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrite Sutter’s Mill. We discovered CO2-bearing fluid (CO2/H2O > ~0.15) in a nanosized inclusion incorporated into a calcite crystal, appearing as CO2 ice and/or CO2 hydrate at 173 K. This is direct evidence of dynamic evolution of the solar system, requiring the Sutter’s Mill’s parent body to have formed outside the CO2 snow line and later transportation to the inner solar system because of Jupiter’s orbital instability.

Photochemical Evolution of Interstellar/Precometary Organic Material

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 23-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis J. Allamandola ◽  
Max P. Bernstein ◽  
Scott A. Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Origin Of Life ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Complex Species ◽  
Infrared Observations ◽  
Interstellar Ice ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Ultraviolet Photolysis ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Simple Molecules ◽  
Complex Organic

AbstractInfrared observations, combined with realistic laboratory simulations, have revolutionized our understanding of interstellar ice and dust, the building blocks of comets. Since comets are thought to be a major source of the volatiles on the primative earth, their organic inventory is of central importance to questions concerning the origin of life. Ices in molecular clouds contain the very simple molecules H2O, CH3OH, CO, CO2, CH4, H2, and probably some NH3and H2CO, as well as more complex species including nitriles, ketones, and esters. The evidence for these, as well as carbonrich materials such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), microdiamonds, and amorphous carbon is briefly reviewed. This is followed by a detailed summary of interstellar/precometary ice photochemical evolution based on laboratory studies of realistic polar ice analogs. Ultraviolet photolysis of these ices produces H2, H2CO, CO2, CO, CH4, HCO, and the moderately complex organic molecules: CH3CH2OH (ethanol), HC(= O)NH2(formamide), CH3C(= O)NH2(acetamide), R-CN (nitriles), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT, C6H12N4), as well as more complex species including polyoxymethylene and related species (POMs), amides, and ketones. The ready formation of these organic species from simple starting mixtures, the ice chemistry that ensues when these ices are mildly warmed, plus the observation that the more complex refractory photoproducts show lipid-like behavior and readily self organize into droplets upon exposure to liquid water suggest that comets may have played an important role in the origin of life.

The Use of Advanced Analytical Techniques for Characterization of the Chemical, Physical, and Crystallographic Nature of a Surface

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 132-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Herfert
Keyword(s):  
Surface Characterization ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Depth Of Penetration ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Past ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Scanning Electron

Studies of the nature of a surface, either metallic or nonmetallic, in the past, have been limited to the instrumentation available for these measurements. In the past, optical microscopy, replica transmission electron microscopy, electron or X-ray diffraction and optical or X-ray spectroscopy have provided the means of surface characterization. Actually, some of these techniques are not purely surface; the depth of penetration may be a few thousands of an inch. Within the last five years, instrumentation has been made available which now makes it practical for use to study the outer few 100A of layers and characterize it completely from a chemical, physical, and crystallographic standpoint. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) provides a means of viewing the surface of a material in situ to magnifications as high as 250,000X.

In situ REM imaging of surface processes on ceramic bulk crystals from 300 to 1670 K in a conventional TEM

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 660-661
Author(s):  
Z. L. Wang ◽  
J. Bentley
Keyword(s):  
High Temperatures ◽  
Image Resolution ◽  
Atomic Processes ◽  
Crystal Surfaces ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Reflection Electron Microscopy ◽  
Gas Reactions

Studying the behavior of surfaces at high temperatures is of great importance for understanding the properties of ceramics and associated surface-gas reactions. Atomic processes occurring on bulk crystal surfaces at high temperatures can be recorded by reflection electron microscopy (REM) in a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) with relatively high resolution, because REM is especially sensitive to atomic-height steps.Improved REM image resolution with a FEG: Cleaved surfaces of a-alumina (012) exhibit atomic flatness with steps of height about 5 Å, determined by reference to a screw (or near screw) dislocation with a presumed Burgers vector of b = (1/3)<012> (see Fig. 1). Steps of heights less than about 0.8 Å can be clearly resolved only with a field emission gun (FEG) (Fig. 2). The small steps are formed by the surface oscillating between the closely packed O and Al stacking layers. The bands of dark contrast (Fig. 2b) are the result of beam radiation damage to surface areas initially terminated with O ions.

Role of boundaries in the crystallization of amorphous films

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 626-627
Author(s):  
D. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Amorphous State ◽  
Nucleation And Growth ◽  
Amorphous Films ◽  
Island Nucleation ◽  
Surface Steps ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Component Systems ◽  
Temperature Deposition

The nucleation and growth processes which lead to the formation of a thin film are particularly amenable to investigation by transmission electron microscopy either in situ or subsequent to deposition. In situ studies have enabled the observation of island nucleation and growth, together with addition of atoms to surface steps. This paper is concerned with post-deposition crystallization of amorphous alloys. It will be argued that the processes occurring during low temperature deposition of one component systems are related but the evidence is mainly indirect. Amorphous films result when the deposition conditions such as low temperature or the presence of impurities (intentional or unintentional) preclude the atomic mobility necessary for crystallization. Representative examples of this behavior are CVD silicon grown below about 670°C, metalloids, such as antimony deposited at room temperature, binary alloys or compounds such as Cu-Ag or Cr O2, respectively. Elemental metals are not stable in the amorphous state.

In situ observations of electromigration induced void behavior

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 244-245
Author(s):  
T. Marieb ◽  
J. C. Bravman ◽  
P. Flinn ◽  
D. Gardner ◽  
M. Madden
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Void Nucleation ◽  
Plan View ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Nucleation Sites ◽  
Microelectronics Industry ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Backscatter Electron Detector ◽  
Voltage Scanning

Electromigration and stress voiding have been active areas of research in the microelectronics industry for many years. While accelerated testing of these phenomena has been performed for the last 25 years[1-2], only recently has the introduction of high voltage scanning electron microscopy (HVSEM) made possible in situ testing of realistic, passivated, full thickness samples at high resolution.With a combination of in situ HVSEM and post-testing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) , electromigration void nucleation sites in both normal polycrystalline and near-bamboo pure Al were investigated. The effect of the microstructure of the lines on the void motion was also studied.The HVSEM used was a slightly modified JEOL 1200 EX II scanning TEM with a backscatter electron detector placed above the sample[3]. To observe electromigration in situ the sample was heated and the line had current supplied to it to accelerate the voiding process. After testing lines were prepared for TEM by employing the plan-view wedge technique [6].

A TEM study of the microstructure of avian eggshells

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1102-1103
Author(s):  
S. Q. Xiao ◽  
S. Baden ◽  
A. H. Heuer
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Nucleation And Growth ◽  
Growth Mechanisms ◽  
Shell Surface ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Polycrystalline Metals ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Nucleation And Growth Mechanisms

The avian eggshell is one of the most rapidly mineralizing biological systems known. In situ, 5g of calcium carbonate are crystallized in less than 20 hrs to fabricate the shell. Although there have been much work about the formation of eggshells, controversy about the nucleation and growth mechanisms of the calcite crystals, and their texture in the eggshell, still remain unclear. In this report the microstructure and microchemistry of avian eggshells have been analyzed using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).Fresh white and dry brown eggshells were broken and fixed in Karnosky's fixative (kaltitanden) for 2 hrs, then rinsed in distilled H2O. Small speckles of the eggshells were embedded in Spurr medium and thin sections were made ultramicrotome.The crystalline part of eggshells are composed of many small plate-like calcite grains, whose plate normals are approximately parallel to the shell surface. The sizes of the grains are about 0.3×0.3×1 μm3 (Fig.l). These grains are not as closely packed as man-made polycrystalline metals and ceramics, and small gaps between adjacent grains are visible indicating the absence of conventional grain boundaries.

Dynamic studies of silicide-mediated crystallization of amorphous silicon

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1352-1353
Author(s):  
C. Hayzelden ◽  
J. L. Batstone
Keyword(s):  
Ion Implantation ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Metallic Phase ◽  
Single Crystal Substrate ◽  
Free Electrons ◽  
Melt Temperature ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Crystal Substrate ◽  
High Resolution Tem

Epitaxial reordering of amorphous Si(a-Si) on an underlying single-crystal substrate occurs well below the melt temperature by the process of solid phase epitaxial growth (SPEG). Growth of crystalline Si(c-Si) is known to be enhanced by the presence of small amounts of a metallic phase, presumably due to an interaction of the free electrons of the metal with the covalent Si bonds near the growing interface. Ion implantation of Ni was shown to lower the crystallization temperature of an a-Si thin film by approximately 200°C. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), precipitates of NiSi2 formed within the a-Si film during annealing, were observed to migrate, leaving a trail of epitaxial c-Si. High resolution TEM revealed an epitaxial NiSi2/Si(l11) interface which was Type A. We discuss here the enhanced nucleation of c-Si and subsequent silicide-mediated SPEG of Ni-implanted a-Si.Thin films of a-Si, 950 Å thick, were deposited onto Si(100) wafers capped with 1000Å of a-SiO2. Ion implantation produced sharply peaked Ni concentrations of 4×l020 and 2×l021 ions cm−3, in the center of the films.

In situ TEM measurements of the electrical properties of interface dislocations

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1338-1339
Author(s):  
F. M. Ross ◽  
R. Hull ◽  
D. Bahnck ◽  
J. C. Bean ◽  
L. J. Peticolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
In Situ Tem ◽  
Device Performance ◽  
Misfit Dislocations ◽  
Electrical Characteristics ◽  
Strained Layer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Interfacial Dislocations

We describe an investigation of the electrical properties of interfacial dislocations in strained layer heterostructures. We have been measuring both the structural and electrical characteristics of strained layer p-n junction diodes simultaneously in a transmission electron microscope, enabling us to correlate changes in the electrical characteristics of a device with the formation of dislocations.The presence of dislocations within an electronic device is known to degrade the device performance. This degradation is of increasing significance in the design and processing of novel strained layer devices which may require layer thicknesses above the critical thickness (hc), where it is energetically favourable for the layers to relax by the formation of misfit dislocations at the strained interfaces. In order to quantify how device performance is affected when relaxation occurs we have therefore been investigating the electrical properties of dislocations at the p-n junction in Si/GeSi diodes.

In situ TEM Studies of agglomeration of sub-nanometer Ru layers in Ru/C multilayers

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 256-257
Author(s):  
Tai D. Nguyen ◽  
Ronald Gronsky ◽  
Jeffrey B. Kortright
Keyword(s):  
Layered Structure ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
In Situ Tem ◽  
Rayleigh Instability ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Diffraction Patterns

Nanometer period Ru/C multilayers are one of the prime candidates for normal incident reflecting mirrors at wavelengths < 10 nm. Superior performance, which requires uniform layers and smooth interfaces, and high stability of the layered structure under thermal loadings are some of the demands in practical applications. Previous studies however show that the Ru layers in the 2 nm period Ru/C multilayer agglomerate upon moderate annealing, and the layered structure is no longer retained. This agglomeration and crystallization of the Ru layers upon annealing to form almost spherical crystallites is a result of the reduction of surface or interfacial energy from die amorphous high energy non-equilibrium state of the as-prepared sample dirough diffusive arrangements of the atoms. Proposed models for mechanism of thin film agglomeration include one analogous to Rayleigh instability, and grain boundary grooving in polycrystalline films. These models however are not necessarily appropriate to explain for the agglomeration in the sub-nanometer amorphous Ru layers in Ru/C multilayers. The Ru-C phase diagram shows a wide miscible gap, which indicates the preference of phase separation between these two materials and provides an additional driving force for agglomeration. In this paper, we study the evolution of the microstructures and layered structure via in-situ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and attempt to determine the order of occurence of agglomeration and crystallization in the Ru layers by observing the diffraction patterns.

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