本项目拟采用矿物学、半导体光电化学与环境地球化学交叉学科研究手段，在查明现代陆地热泉中自然硫精细矿物学与半导体物理化学特性的基础上，围绕“地表热泉自然硫同素异形体半导体矿物学特性及其光催化还原CO2为小分子有机质的电子转移与活化机制”这一关键科学问题，模拟开展早期地表自然硫光催化还原CO2的精细过程研究，鉴定自然硫表面缺陷位、CO2活性反应位与自由基类中间产物，计算光子—光电子—电子与碳转化效率，探讨CO2被活化并被还原转化的可能途径，阐明光电子/电子在还原态物质/自然硫/CO2界面转移与转化的动力学机制。提出自然硫光催化作用诱导非生物途径生命起源物质形成的机制与理论模型，为地球生命陆地化学起源学说提供能量来源与物质转化科学证据。

This project will utilize interdisciplinary research methods of mineralogy, semiconducting photoelectric chemistry and environmental geochemistry, with the aim to identify the fine mineralogical characteristics and semiconducting physicochemical properties of natural sulfur collected from terrestrial hot springs. We will specially address the key scientific problem of “the semiconducting mineralogical characteristics of natural sulfur allotropes and the electron transfer and CO2 activation mechanisms involved in the process of photoreductive conversion of CO2 into small molecule organics”. To achieve this goal, we will study the detailed process of CO2 photoreduction by natural sulfur in simulated environmental conditions of early Earth, identify the defect sites, active sites and radical-like intermediates on the surface of natural sulfur, calculate the conversion efficiency of photon-photoelectron-electron as well as CO2 to organics, study the possible activation and reduction pathway of CO2, and interpret the dynamic mechanism of electron/photoelectron transfer and transformation on the interface of reductive substances/natural sulfur/CO2. Dedicating to the new forming mechanism and theoretical model to comprehend the abiotic pathway of life origination involved by natural sulfur photocatalysis, this project is of great scientific value and can provide new evidences of substance transformation and energy resource to support the terrestrial chemical origin of life on early Earth.