Roles of Mineral Surfaces in the Origin and Evolution of Chemical Complexity

Mineral chemistry and its interfaces with astrochemistry, prebiotic chemistry, and astrobiology are central to our understanding of molecular evolution. Since the formulation of Bernal’s hypothesis, minerals have been recognized as key agents in the concentration of prebiotic molecules, the provision of catalytic surfaces, and the protection of fragile species from destructive processes. Across a wide range of environments, minerals act as reactive interfaces that influence the formation, transformation, and preservation of complex molecules. Their roles include adsorption, catalysis, radiation-driven chemistry, and the stabilization of reactive intermediates, with implications ranging from astrochemical synthesis to planetary geochemistry and early-Earth chemistry.

Recent studies have shown that chemical interactions on minerals are strongly shaped by mineralogical composition, origin—cosmic or planetary—and local surface and energetic conditions. Although advances in analytical techniques and computational modeling are shedding new light on mineral-driven prebiotic synthesis, much remains to be explored regarding the diversity of mineral surfaces, from interstellar and circumstellar dust grains to planetary minerals and materials found in meteorites and comets. Dialogue across disciplines is growing, yet major questions remain open: how do mineral energy landscapes guide molecular evolution, and how do different mineral environments influence the emergence of chemical complexity across the Solar System and beyond?

This Research Topic aims to bring together researchers from astronomy, planetary science, astrochemistry, geochemistry, and origins-of-life chemistry to explore how mineral surfaces and mineralogical diversity contribute to chemical complexity in space and on planetary bodies. It seeks both to consolidate current knowledge and to stimulate new research on the influence of minerals in the formation and evolution of complex molecules relevant to the origin of life. In particular, the Topic aims to clarify the catalytic roles of different classes of minerals and to unravel the interplay between mineral properties and key prebiotic reactions, while addressing major open questions: Are certain mineral types or structures especially effective in catalyzing key synthetic pathways? How do environmental parameters modulate these effects? And can modern theoretical and computational approaches, including machine learning, help predict and rationalize these processes?

Submissions should address the broad range of mineral-mediated processes involved in chemical evolution, while remaining within the context of astrochemical and planetary environments. Multi- and interdisciplinary contributions are especially encouraged, including experimental, theoretical, and computational studies. To advance our understanding of how minerals contribute to chemical complexity, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Mineral surface chemistry and physical properties
• Inorganic catalysis and organocatalysis on mineral surfaces
• Gas-phase, liquid-phase, and solid-phase chemistry involving minerals
• The role of minerals in molecular evolution and systems chemistry
• Theoretical and computational chemistry, including machine-learning applications.

A variety of article types are welcome, including original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methods papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Organic Compounds, Prebiotic Chemistry, Mineral Surfaces, Computational Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, Origin of Life

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.