NEW ISOMER GIVES INSIGHT ON MAKING ORGANIC MOLECULES IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

[CH_2O_2] is a simple molecular system, yet within that simplicity are both deep questions and practical applications. The conversion of H_2 and CO_2 to [CH_2O_2] is a vital reaction for energy storage and transportation, and may provide a pathway for scrubbing climate-change-causing CO_2 from the atmosphere. In space, H_2 and CO_2 are abundant molecules, and understanding how they come together as [CH_2O_2] might provide some insight into the prebiotic environment of the earth, as well as potential access to organic molecules in extraterrestrial environments.