{"title":"Palaeoenvironment and Productivity-Driven Organic Matter Enrichment in the Upper Permian Dalong Formation Shales, Northeastern Sichuan Basin","authors":"Xue Chen, Longfei Lu, Zongquan Hu, Wangwei Liu, Weixin Liu, Chencheng He","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00149","url":null,"abstract":"<p>TheUpper Permian Dalong Formation in the northeastern SichuanBasin contains organic-rich siliceous shales deposited in the Kaijiang–LiangpingTrough, but the relative roles of productivity, redox conditions,and nutrient supply in organic matter enrichment remain debated. Thisstudy integrates total organic carbon (TOC), petrographic observations,major-element, and trace-element data from wells Leba B (LBB), HebaA (HBA), and Yuanba C (YBC) to evaluate palaeoenvironmental conditionsand organic matter enrichment mechanisms. TOC contents vary from 0.40wt % to 20.78 wt %, indicating spatially heterogeneous organic matteraccumulation. Low CIA and Ga/Rb values in most LBB and HBA samplessuggest relatively weak chemical weathering and limited terrigenousinput. Redox-sensitive element patterns indicate that the studiedDalong Formation succession experienced fluctuating redox conditions,ranging from oxic to anoxic–sulfidic conditions. Mo–TOCrelationships further suggest a semi-restricted intrashelf-basin settingwith episodic seawater exchange. The widespread siliceous shales,excess silica, negative SiO<sub>2</sub>–Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> relationship, and abundant radiolarian remains indicate enhancedsiliceous biological productivity. Positive correlations between TOCand productivity-sensitive trace metals, especially Ni<sub>XS</sub> and Cu<sub>XS</sub>, suggest that organic matter enrichment wasmainly driven by elevated marine productivity. Volcanic and hydrothermalinputs may have occurred locally or episodically, but the availablegeochemical evidence does not support them as dominant controls inmost studied samples. Overall, organic matter enrichment in the DalongFormation was primarily controlled by productivity, further modulatedby redox-controlled preservation, and sustained by a combination oflimited terrigenous nutrient input, episodic inflow of nutrient-richPalaeo-Tethyan seawater, and possible internal phosphorus recyclingunder reducing conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 10","pages":"2277–2297"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149173803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Abiotic Methane Formation by Electrochemical Reactions under Simulated Martian Dust Conditions","authors":"Junqi Ren, Yuheng Ni, Zhongchen Wu, Xiaoli Wang, Zongcheng Ling, Wenshuo Mao, Tongwen Jin, Guobin Jin, Guangkuo Liu, Xianyang Sun, Chuanmin Ma, Yueming Li","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00168","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reports of Martian methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) remain controversial,with some in situ detections but stringent upper limits from the TraceGas Orbiter (TGO). While CH<sub>4</sub> is often considered to bea potential sign of biological or geological activity, the originand variability of reported Martian CH<sub>4</sub> remain unresolved.Dust activity, a fundamental feature of the Martian climate, bringstogether atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), water preservedin hydrous surface minerals, and strong electrochemical effects associatedwith electrostatic discharge (ESD), thereby creating favorable conditionsfor the generation of CH<sub>4</sub>. Here, we show that low-pressureCO<sub>2</sub> discharge in the presence of hydrated minerals canproduce detectable CH<sub>4</sub> under controlled laboratory conditions,supporting a potential abiotic CH<sub>4</sub> formation pathway associatedwith dust activity. The CH<sub>4</sub> response is strongly mineral-dependentand is generally enhanced by greater availability of accessible mineral-associatedwater, while externally supplied water alone is insufficient to induceCH<sub>4</sub> formation in all mineral systems. These findings reveala plausible coupling among atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>, mineral-associatedwater, and dust electrochemistry that provides an additional near-surfaceabiotic pathway for the formation of Martian CH<sub>4</sub>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 10","pages":"2298–2309"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149173911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interstellar SiS(1Σ+) Formation through SiH(2Π) + S(3P): Reaction Dynamics and Vibrational Distribution","authors":"Delvany G. de Castro, Maikel Y. Ballester","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00230","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The interpretationof astronomical spectra obtained from radiotelescopes requires data on the dynamics and kinetics of molecularcollisions involving the detected species. Here, we report a dynamicsand kinetics study of the reaction between the silylidyne radicaland ground-state sulfur atoms. The quasi-classical trajectory (QCT)methodology is employed, using a previously reported global analyticalpotential energy surface for the ground electronic state of SSiH torepresent the interatomic interaction. It is shown that the reactionrate constant depends on temperature in the range 10 < <em>T</em>/K < 200, while remaining nearly constant at highervalues. Details on the reaction pathway are presented, and the nascentSiS is found to be vibrationally excited.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149173414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heterogeneous Nitrate Radical Oxidation of Catechol Produces Nitrocatechols, Oligomers, and Brown Carbon","authors":"Md. Sohel Rana, Marcelo I. Guzman","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00226","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Catechol is an importantbiomass-burning phenolic compoundanda precursor of secondary organic aerosol. This work reports the molecularproducts generated during heterogeneous oxidation of catechol thinfilms by nitrate radicals under dry conditions. Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, electrosprayionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and ultrahigh-pressure liquidchromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) were usedto characterize condensed-phase products and light-absorbing chromophores.FTIR spectra showed the appearance of nitroaromatic absorptions near1590 and 1350 cm<sup>–1</sup>. UV–visible spectra revealeda broad absorption feature centered near 349 nm characteristic ofbrown-carbon chromophores. ESI-MS identified 4-nitrocatechol, dinitrocatecholspecies, catechol dimers, and catechol trimers. UHPLC-MS confirmedthe presence of nitroaromatic and oligomeric products through chromatographicseparation and mass-spectral assignments. Results support a mechanisminvolving semiquinone radical intermediates followed by nitrationand radical coupling. These findings establish heterogeneous NO<sub>3</sub> oxidation of catechol as an important nighttime pathway linkingbiomass-burning emissions to the formation of light-absorbing secondaryorganic aerosol.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2159–2170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148980764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patiemma Rubio, Aakash Davasam, Nicholas A. Wauer, Abigail C. Dommer, Man Luo, Vicki H. Grassian, Rommie E. Amaro
{"title":"Enzymes at the Ocean–Atmosphere Boundary: Lipase Modulation of Lipid Packing and Water Loss in Sea Spray Aerosols","authors":"Patiemma Rubio, Aakash Davasam, Nicholas A. Wauer, Abigail C. Dommer, Man Luo, Vicki H. Grassian, Rommie E. Amaro","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00108","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> complex(BCC) comprises marine bacteria that secrete <em>Burkholderia cepacia</em> lipase (BCL), an enzyme that hydrolyzes ester-linkedsubstrates. BCL is enriched at the ocean–air interface andcan be transferred to the atmosphere via sea spray aerosols (SSAs),which contain salts, organic matter, and microorganisms. SSAs influencethe Earth’s radiative balance through cloud formation and cancontribute to respiratory exposure. Because BCL has been linked tosevere infections in immunocompromised individuals, its presence inSSAs may have implications for both climate-relevant processes andhuman health. Here, we quantify water evaporation from saline solutionswith and without BCL beneath marine-relevant lipid monolayers. Lipidmonolayers suppress evaporation relative to pure salt solutions, whereasthe addition of BCL restores water loss to near–salt-solutionlevels, indicating disruption of the interfacial barrier. To probethe molecular basis of this effect, we performed classical all-atommolecular dynamics simulations of BCL in marine-relevant lipid monolayerand bilayer systems, followed by simulations of full-scale, heterogeneousnascent SSA models. Simplified model slab systems reveal BCL conformationaldynamics and interfacial stability, while realistic aerosol modelsreproduce experimental trends and highlight the roles of curvatureand lipid packing in modulating water loss. These results demonstratethat structural complexity critically shapes protein behavior at air–waterinterfaces and emphasize the need for realistic aerosol models instudies of marine interfacial processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"1993–2002"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dev C. Chauhan, Joshua J. Brown, Ray G. DiNardi, Anna Wang, Albert C. Fahrenbach
{"title":"NMR Spectroscopy of Ribose–Borate Complexes Revisited","authors":"Dev C. Chauhan, Joshua J. Brown, Ray G. DiNardi, Anna Wang, Albert C. Fahrenbach","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00191","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ribose–borate complexes playan important role in prebioticchemistry, yet detailed, systematic structural characterization byNMR spectroscopy particularly of the 2:1 complexes has remained limited.The most widely cited study dates to 1988 by Chapelle and Verchererelying on 80 and 90 MHz magnets. Herein, we present updated structuralcharacterization of ribose–borate complexes using one- andtwo-dimensional <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy(performed with a 600 MHz instrument), including assignment of protonand carbon resonances via <sup>1</sup>H–<sup>1</sup>H COSYand <sup>1</sup>H–<sup>13</sup>C HSQC experiments. These assignmentswere corroborated and supported by density functional theory predictionsof NMR chemical shifts. It is demonstrated that the homogeneous 2:1complexes exist as diastereomeric pairs arising from <em>R</em> and <em>S</em> configurations at the spiro-boron center.In addition, <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy suggests the presenceof other heterogeneous 2:1 complexes that have not previously beenreported or discussed. These results provide a more comprehensivereference for ribose–borate speciation, supporting future studiesparticularly in prebiotic chemistry.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2116–2128"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hannah Juan Han, Alexander P. Gysi, Nicole C. Hurtig, Artas A. Migdisov
{"title":"Spectrophotometric Study of Erbium(III) Speciation in Chloride Solutions from 25 to 75 °C","authors":"Hannah Juan Han, Alexander P. Gysi, Nicole C. Hurtig, Artas A. Migdisov","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00161","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Accurate thermodynamic properties for REE aqueous complexesarecrucial for predicting the mobility of rare earth elements (REE) innatural waters and for developing improved separation and recoverytechnologies. In this study, UV–vis spectrophotometric experimentswere conducted at 25–75 °C using pH 1.5 of Er-HClO<sub>4</sub>-bearing solutions with varying NaCl concentrations from 0to 1.7 mol/kg. Under these experimental conditions, Er hydrolysisis negligible, and speciation is controlled by Er<sup>3+</sup> andEr chloride complexes. The molar absorbance coefficient of Er<sup>3+</sup> decreases with temperature, and the absorbance intensitygradually decreases with increasing m<sub>Cl</sub>/m<sub>Er</sub> ratios.The number of absorbing species include Er<sup>3+</sup> and ErCl<sup>2+</sup> even at the highest m<sub>Cl</sub>/m<sub>Er</sub> ratioof ∼34. The formation constant (β<sub>1</sub><sup>0</sup>) for the ErCl<sup>2+</sup> species was derived and fitted between50 and 250 °C with existing literature values, yielding the followingequation: logβ<sub>1</sub><sup>0</sup> = −22.4315 + 0.0345<em>T</em> + 3.9379 × 10<sup>3</sup>/<em>T</em>, where <em>T</em> is temperature in Kelvin. A comparison between this newfit and previous predictions indicates good agreement at 100–250°C, whereas larger differences occur in the 25–75 °Ctemperature range due to a broad scattering of previous experimentalliterature data at 25 °C. The new fit shows a systematic decreasein logβ<sub>1</sub><sup>0</sup> values from 25 to 100 °C,indicating that REE chloride complexes become less stable with increasingtemperature. These updated formation constant data are important formodeling REE speciation at low temperatures relevant to REE sorptiononto clay minerals and REE extraction technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2053–2061"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbial Dissimilatory Iron Reduction of REE-Doped Ferrihydrite and Differential Behaviors of Light and Heavy REEs","authors":"Ling-Xiong Yuan, Wei Yin, Wen-Ping Liu, Qi-Zhi Yao, Gen-Tao Zhou","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00152","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Regolith-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposits area criticalresource, particularly for heavy REEs. Iron oxide minerals are oneof the key REE carriers in these deposits, and elucidating the biogeochemicalbehaviors of carrier minerals and associated REEs is crucial for oregenesis and sustainable extraction. Here, using synthetic La- or Lu-dopedferrihydrite (La-/Lu-Fhy) as proxies for natural light/heavy REE-richiron oxide minerals and <em>Shewanella oneidensis</em> MR-1 as a model dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) bacterium, weinvestigated microbially mediated mineral evolution and REE partitioning.Results show that REEs inhibited the transformation of Fhy into thethermodynamically more stable magnetite (Mag), with La exerting astronger inhibition than Lu. Following the DIR-mediated phase transformation,REEs were enriched within the iron oxide minerals, and Lu exhibitedmore pronounced enrichment than La. Moreover, the speciation of mineral-associatedREEs shifted from a structurally incorporated to a surface-adsorbedstate during Fhy reductive dissolution, and subsequently revertedto the incorporated state during secondary Mag mineralization on Fhy.Notably, more Lu than La remained structurally incorporated, due toits smaller ionic radius, stronger affinity for iron minerals, andweaker inhibition on Mag formation. These differential behaviors betweenlight and heavy REEs during microbial DIR could promote REE enrichmentand fractionation within iron oxide minerals. Our findings thus canprovide insights into the mobilization and redistribution of ironoxide-associated REEs in actual deposits, advancing the understandingof the biogeochemistry of regolith-hosted REEs.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2032–2044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cycloalkanes and Aromatics on a Model Astrophysical Surface: Wetting, Dewetting and Thermal Desorption","authors":"Rushdi Senevirathne, Martin R. S. McCoustra","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00174","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The interaction of small aromatic molecules (benzeneand naphthalene),and of small cycloalkanes (cyclohexane and decalin), with an amorphoussilica (aSiO<sub>2</sub>) surface as a model of interstellar silicategrain materials has been explored. Experimental studies of the interactionof cycloalkanes with the aSiO<sub>2</sub> surface, employing temperature-programmeddesorption to explore directly the binding of the adsorbates to thesurface, are combined with data derived from previously publishedstudies of the small aromatics. This reveals that, in the monolayer,the aromatic species wet the aSiO<sub>2</sub> surface while the cycloalkanestend to dewet. The results of a simple computational comparison ofthe two reported herein suggest that this behavior results from thedonation of charge from the extended π electron structure onthe aromatic molecule to Lewis acid Si sites on the aSiO<sub>2</sub> surface forming a dative interaction and making these Si atoms hypervalent.Such behavior is not possible with the cycloalkanes and their interactionwith the aSiO<sub>2</sub> surface is dominated by weak van der Waalsinteractions. Reduction of the binding energy of the cycloalkanescompared to the aromatic sees the surface residence time of the formersignificantly reduced compared to the latter. We speculate as to thepossible impact of the role of Lewis acid–base behavior inweakening the bonding in the aromatics consequently reducing the activationenergy for their surface hydrogenation in a catalytic fashion.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2072–2084"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Computational Investigation of Al2O3 Structures at Super-Earth Interior Conditions","authors":"Stefano Racioppi, Amelia Kelly, Eva Zurek","doi":"10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6c00125","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is an important componentof rockyplanetary interiors, yet its behavior at the multimegabar pressuresrelevant to super-Earth mantles is not completely understood. Here,we combine crystal structure prediction with state-of-the-art densityfunctional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the structural,thermodynamic, and electronic properties of alumina from ambient pressureto 1 TPa and up to 8000 K. Evolutionary searches uncovered a previouslyunreported monoclinic <em>P2</em><sub>1</sub>/<em>m</em> polymorph that becomes nearly degenerate in enthalpy with the U<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-type and α-Gd<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-type structures above 500 GPa. Cold enthalpy calculations usingthe r<sup>2</sup>SCAN meta-GGA (meta-generalized-gradient approximation)functional predict the transition sequence α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> → Rh<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>(II)-type → CaIrO<sub>3</sub>-type → U<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-type, with the CaIrO<sub>3</sub>- to U<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-type transition occurringat ∼450 GPa, significantly higher than earlier local-densityapproximation (LDA) estimates, suggesting that the U<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-type phase may be accessible primarily under dynamic compressionconditions. Quasi-harmonic free energy calculations further indicatethat this transition pressure is temperature dependent up to 8000K, with a positive slope of 94.1 K/GPa (or 10.6 MPa/K) for the phaseboundary of the CaIrO<sub>3</sub>-type/U<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-typestructures. Across the stable phases, we analyze the trends of theatomic volumes, Bader charges, and electronic band gaps, revealinglimited compressibility of Al<sup>3+</sup> above 200 GPa. The predictedsmall enthalpy differences among high-pressure polymorphs imply thepossible coexistence of numerous metastable structures under super-Earthinterior conditions. These results refine the phase diagram of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> at extreme conditions and provide quantitativeconstraints for modeling the mineralogy, density profiles, and transportproperties of rocky exoplanet mantles. We further predict that aluminaremains a wide-band gap insulator throughout the investigated pressurerange, with phase-dependent discontinuities of the band gap at structuraltransitions, but no indication of metallization up to 1 TPa and 0K.</p>","PeriodicalId":15,"journal":{"name":"ACS Earth and Space Chemistry","volume":"10 9","pages":"2003–2009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}