Doctoral themes 2023

Mechanochemical energy, using derivatives of carbon dioxide, to study the composition of meteorites and asteroids 

Supervisors

José Armando Luísa da Silva, pcd1950@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Pedro Paulo, pedro.m.paulo@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico

Project description

The discovery of nucleobases in meteorites suggests the decomposition of ribonucleosides by their interaction with carbon dioxide and its derivatives, probably mediated by metals. This is based on studies of the degradation of ribose by carbon dioxide derivatives and the unsuccessful synthesis of ribonucleosides by direct addition of nucleobases and ribose; since these molecules are brought directly from outer space and based on previous comments, they could not have been the starting materials for the origin of life. The expected results will allow a new approach on prebiological evolution.

These studies will be carried out using mechanochemical procedures and high energy sources. DFT methodologies will be implemented to predict the degradation mechanisms. To validate the proposed model, new methodologies for ribonucleosides detection and quantification will be implemented for meteorite and asteroid samples. 

The advisors are from different thematic lines and the studies using mechanochemical procedures and high energy sources involve researchers with non-permanent position. It´s expected at least 6 months of research mobility to be conducted in abroad laboratories (please, see attached letters).

Keywords

Mechanochemistry

Carbon dioxide and derivatives

Meteorites

Asteroids

Ribonucleosides