Objectives:

1.1 Understand the fluid dynamics of chemical gardens and biomimetic nano-materials;

1.2 Investigate the chemical interactions at the atomic scale in the formation of tubular structures;

1.3 Understand the thermodynamic interactions of the internal surfaces of these materials with water and organic molecules;

1.4 Construct a protocol for flow-controlled synthesis of given solid material;

1.5 Connect the fluid mechanics of chemical gardens to biological applications and the evolutionary history of plants.

All of these objectives have relevance for our understanding of the emergence of life at hydrothermal vents.

Tasks:

2.1 Monitoring the fluid dynamics during pattern formation with laser-induced fluorescence and particle-image velocimetry experiments.
2.2 Molecular dynamics simulations of a semipermeable membrane model.
2.3 Exploration of interactions of organic molecules in a confined space of tubular structures and extrapolation to the origin of life both on Earth and for astrobiology interests.
2.4 Characterization of the precipitation patterns and tubes as a function of concentrations and flow conditions.

2.5 Understand the role of self-organisation in corrosion.
2.6 Control of chemical garden formation using external fields.

Milestones:
2.1.1.- Constructed model for simulations.