Ammonia enhances clathrate formation in planetary atmospheres

摘要

Previous studies have speculated that the antifreeze properties of ammonia, long recognized as a key chemical species in extraterrestrial environments, may inhibit ice and clathrate hydrate formation, thereby maintaining liquid water oceans on Saturn's moons Titan and Ence-ladus. Similar in size to methane, the ammonia molecule, however, seems a likely candidate to be incorporated into methane clathrates at pressures and temperatures similar to those found on the two moons.