Electrochemical Study of the Interface between Metal Oxides Nanostructures and Organic Molecules in Pre-Biotic Chemical Conditions

• Grant number: 12/07358-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Frank Nelson Crespilho
• Grantee: Vítor Alexandre Nunes de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Life's origin theory based on the Miller experiment, which is reported the amino acids formation at the primitive Earth conditions, without consider the interface involving the solid surface of the rocks. In this context, this project aims to build a system that simulates the conditions of primitive Earth, as well as understanding the processes and mechanisms involved in the organic molecules formation on the surface of thin films that are constituted by iron oxide nanoparticles supported on gold electrodes and on the surface of titania nanoparticles in suspension. Therefore, will be study the electrochemical processes at the interface between modified electrodes with iron oxide nanoparticles and the molecules formed on their surface, in addition, the processes of the interface involving the TiO2 nanoparticles suspension, in pre-biotic chemical conditions. Iron oxide nanoparticles were chosen due to composing great part of the minerals present in rocks, such as hematite, which may be formed by processes climatic and sedimentation.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CARVALHO, Vítor Alexandre Nunes de. Effect of the Electrochemistry Oxidation and Ultraviolet Irradiation on the Formation of Biomolecules from Ammonium Thiocyanate under Prebiotic Conditions. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) São Carlos.