AFM-IR nanospectroscopy of nanoglobule-like particles in Ryugu samples returned by the Hayabusa2 mission
Authors: Mathurin Jérémie , Bejach Laure , Dartois Emmanuel , Engrand Cécile , Dazzi Alexandre , Deniset-Besseau Ariane , Duprat Jean , Kebukawa Yoko , Yabuta Hikaru , Bonal Lydie , Quirico Eric , Sandt Christophe , Borondics Ferenc , Barosch Jens , Beck Pierre , Cody George D. , De Gregorio Brad T. , Hashiguchi Minako , Kilcoyne David A. L. , Komatsu Mutsumi , Martins Zita , Matsumoto Megumi , Montagnac Gilles , Mostefaoui Smail , Nittler Larry R. , Ohigashi Takuji , Okumura Taiga , Phan Van T. H. , Remusat Laurent , Sandford Scott , Shigenaka Miho , Stroud Rhonda , Suga Hiroki , Takahashi Yoshio , Takeichi Yasuo , Tamenori Yusuke , Verdier-Paoletti Maximilien , Yamashita Shohei , Nakamura Tomoki , Morita Tomoyo , Kikuiri Mizuha , Amano Kana , Kagawa Eiichi , Noguchi Takaaki , Naraoka Hiroshi , Okazaki Ryuji , Sakamoto Kanako , Yurimoto Hisayoshi , Abe Masanao , Kamide Kanami , Miyazaki Akiko , Nakato Aiko , Nakazawa Satoru , Nishimura Masahiro , Okada Tatsuaki , Saiki Takanao , Tachibana Shogo , Tanaka Satoshi , Terui Fuyuto , Tsuda Yuichi , Usui Tomohiro , Watanabe Sei-ichiro , Yada Toru , Yogata Kasumi , Yoshikawa Makoto 
Published: February 2024

Context. The JAXA Hayabusa2 mission returned well-preserved samples collected from the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu, providing unique non-terrestrially weathered samples from a known parent body.

Aims. This work aims to provide a better understanding of the formation and evolution of primitive asteroidal matter by studying the fine scale association of organic matter and minerals in Ryugu samples. We characterized the samples by IR nanospectroscopy using infrared photothermal nanospectroscopy (AFM-IR) technique. This technique overcomes the diffraction limit (of several microns) of conventional infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR). The samples were mapped in the mid-IR range at a lateral spatial resolution about a hundred times better than with µ-FTIR. This provided us with unique in situ access to the distribution of the different infrared signatures of organic components at the sub-micron scale present in the Ryugu whole-rock samples as well as to the characterization of the compositional variability of Ryugu in the insoluble organic matter (IOM) chemically extracted from the Ryugu samples.

Methods. The AFM-IR maps of whole-rock particles and IOM residues from Ryugu samples were recorded with a lateral resolution of tens of nanometers. Spectra were recorded in the 1900–900 cm−1 spectral range by AFM-IR (Icon-IR) for all samples, and additional spectra were recorded from 2700 to 4000 cm−1 for one IOM sample by an optical photothermal IR (O-PTIR) technique using a mIRage® IR microscope.

Results. Organic matter is present in two forms in the whole-rock samples: as a diffuse phase intermixed with the phyllosilicate matrix and as individual organic nanoparticles. We identify the Ryugu organic nanoparticles as nanoglobule-like inclusions texturally resembling nanoglobules present in primitive meteorites. Using AFM-IR, we record for the first time the infrared spectra of Ryugu organic nanoparticles that clearly show enhanced carbonyl (C=O) and CH contributions with respect to the diffuse organic matter in Ryugu whole-rock and IOM residue.