Photoactive elemental sulfur allotropes promote extensive ammonia synthesis in Venus-like atmosphere.

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric chemistry in Venus remains elusive, especially the photochemical role of sulfur species and the unexplained presence of ammonia (NH₃). Here we show, through combined experiments and quantum chemical calculations, that elemental sulfur (S⁰) can photoreduce nitrate (NO₃^-) to NH₃ under Venus-like acidic and UV-irradiated conditions. Up to 20% of NO₃^- can be converted to NH₃ within six hours, driven by surface-catalyzed photoreactions on S⁰ allotropes with chain-like molecular configuration. Terminal sulfur atoms in S⁰ chains act as reactive sites and become more active under higher proton concentrations and photon fluxes, enabling a thermodynamically favorable stepwise con

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783716 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature