Irradiation of methanol ice on a sulfur-rich dust analogue at 25 K: a mid-infrared spectroscopic study
Journal article, 2026
Despite possibly representing a comparatively large reservoir of sulfur in extraterrestrial environments, the role of sulfur allotropes in the radiation-driven chemistry occurring in low-temperature ices in astrophysical media (e.g., pre-stellar nebulae or the outer Solar System) is an underexplored topic. Previous work has shown that the irradiation of astrophysical ice analogues composed of simple molecules on top of layers of allotropic sulfur results in the formation of simple, inorganic sulfur-bearing molecules in the ice phase. Our present work seeks to qualitatively determine whether the analogous irradiation of methanol on top of allotropic sulfur may lead to the formation of organosulfur molecules, as well as H2S. Using in situ mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy, we have found compelling evidence for the formation of SO2, CS2, H2SO4, and a number of sulfur oxyanions, as well as tentative evidence for H2S formation. Evidence for the formation of thiol molecules was inconclusive. Our experimental results are discussed in the context of their applicability to sulfur astrochemistry.
Author
D. V. Mifsud
Hungarian Research Network
University Of Kent
Z. Kanuchova
Slovak Academy of Sciences
Hungarian Research Network
Olivier Auriacombe
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
P. Herczku
Hungarian Research Network
R. Racz
Hungarian Research Network
S. T. S. Kovacs
Hungarian Research Network
D. Qasim
Southwest Research Institute
B. Sulik
Hungarian Research Network
Z. Juhasz
Hungarian Research Network
I. Vajda
Hungarian Research Network
I. Rajta
Hungarian Research Network
U. Raut
Southwest Research Institute
S. Biri
Hungarian Research Network
S. Ioppolo
Aarhus University
N. J. Mason
University Of Kent
Hungarian Research Network
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
1463-9076 (ISSN) 1463-9084 (eISSN)
Vol. 28 5 3642-3655Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Materials Chemistry
Other Chemistry Topics
Separation Processes
Other Chemical Engineering
Catalytic Processes
Physical Chemistry
DOI
10.1039/d5cp03973h
PubMed
41574695
Related datasets
Raw data for "Irradiation of methanol ice on a sulfur-rich dust analogue at 25 K: A mid-infrared spectroscopic study" [dataset]
DOI: 10.17632/6rzgmwcwpm.1