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Full-Text Articles in Physical Chemistry

Synthesis, Characterization, And Thermal Investigation Of Metal Phosphites And Potential Implications For Astrobiology, Kimberly Faye Meyberg Apr 2022

Synthesis, Characterization, And Thermal Investigation Of Metal Phosphites And Potential Implications For Astrobiology, Kimberly Faye Meyberg

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses

The role of phosphorus in biochemistry is well understood. However, the route by which phosphorus was incorporated into early biomolecules on the prebiotic Earth is uncertain. Phosphate, the most prevalent species of phosphorus found in Earth’s geological record, is insoluble and unreactive with organics in aqueous environments. While the most abundant biogenic elements (C, N, H, O, and S) can be found in a volatile phase under terrestrial conditions, phosphorus cannot, suggesting that minerals must have been the main sources of phosphorus on the early Earth. One possible explanation is that phosphite was a major source of reduced, reactive phosphorus …


Understanding The Surface Induced Phosphorylation Of Prebiotic Molecules By Schreibersite, Danna Qasim Apr 2016

Understanding The Surface Induced Phosphorylation Of Prebiotic Molecules By Schreibersite, Danna Qasim

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses

The study of the surface of a meteoritic mineral, schreibersite (Fe,Ni)3P, was investigated to provide insight into the role of the mineral’s surface in aqueous-phase phosphorylation reactions. The optimization of a custom-designed ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) apparatus and Fe2NiP (schreibersite) surface was performed to permit surface science analysis. The bare surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which showed some oxidation and segregation of phosphorous within the near-surface region. The interaction and/or reaction of water (H2O), methanol (CH3OH), formic acid …


Analysis And Comparison Of The Photodecomposition Reaction Of Methanol On Ceo2 Impregnated Tio2 Surfaces Versus Bare Tio2 Surfaces, Christopher A. Estes May 2015

Analysis And Comparison Of The Photodecomposition Reaction Of Methanol On Ceo2 Impregnated Tio2 Surfaces Versus Bare Tio2 Surfaces, Christopher A. Estes

Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been well-studied primarily due to its unique photocatalytic activity. Different preparation techniques have been developed to increase its photocatalytic activity by various means, including simply increasing the surface area, changing the makeup of the framework, and modifying the surface with a dopant. This study focuses on the effect cerium oxide (CeO2) has on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by depositing CeO2 on the TiO2 surface. Methanol is used as a probe reactant for these experiments due to its wide use in heterogeneous catalysis research and the limited products that …