The role of mineral photoelectron energy in the origin and evolution of early life on the Earth
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    Abstract:

    The first step in the origin of early life on the Earth was the synthesis of simple organic compounds, but the energy source required for the synthesis of organic compounds has long plagued the academic community. By introducing the photoelectric effect of semiconductor minerals widely existing on the Earth's surface, this paper focuses on the micro mechanism of the reduction of carbon dioxide to organic compounds by mineral photoelectron energy, and puts forward that the semiconductor minerals on the early Earth provide a new direct energy source for the synthesis of basic organic substances of the pre- life origin, so as to explain the important role of mineral photoelectron energy in the origin and evolution of early life on the Earth.Results & Conclusions: The abundant sulfide semiconductor minerals on the early Earth can convert solar photons into photoelectrons and can provide a sustainable energy source. It is precisely because of the high photoelectron energy of minerals that they have advantages in the non biological synthesis of small molecular organics. The photoelectron energy generated by the conversion of natural sulfur of semiconductor minerals into solar energy is the highest photoelectron energy of minerals found so far. It can not only directly reduce CO2molecules to formic acid, but also catalyze the synthesis of other basic life substances. In the global terrestrial system, the rock / soil surface exposed to sunlight is generally covered by a layer of "mineral membrane" made of Fe- and Mn (oxyhydr)oxide. Under light, the "mineral membrane" of birnessite produces in- situ, sensitive and long- term photocurrent, showing excellent photoelectric effect. The biological photosynthesis center Mn4CaO5 produces structural intermediates with composition and structure similar to birnessite in the process of cracked aquatic oxygen. Birnessite in the "mineral membrane" of the early Earth may have promoted the origin and evolution of the cluster of Mn4 CaO5 and even the biological photosynthesis. The semiconductor minerals from early Earth provided direct energy source for the synthesis of basic materials of the origin of life. Mineral photoelectron energy played an important role in the origin and evolution of early Earth life.

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LU Anhuai, LI Yan, LI Yanzhang, DING Hongrui, WANG Changqiu.2022. The role of mineral photoelectron energy in the origin and evolution of early life on the Earth[J]. Geological Review,68(5):2022102007.

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History
  • Received:June 09,2022
  • Revised:September 10,2022
  • Adopted:
  • Online: October 19,2022
  • Published: