Irradiation of methanol ice on a sulfur-rich dust analogue at 25 K: a mid-infrared spectroscopic study

Abstract

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.