Abstract
Interstellar dust particles (IDPs) constitute most of the solid matter in the universe. Large quantities of IDPs are also present in the Solar System and fall on Earth. IDPs are also of interest as they can catalyze astrochemical reactions and prebiotic synthesis, and their organic contents are believed to have contributed to the origins of life. Their chemical composition is similar to carbonaceous chondrite comets, asteroids and meteorites. The IDPs are microporous web-like aggregates of 10-100 nm phyllosilicate particles with morphologies similar to particles produced by the Laser Vaporization Controlled Condensation (LVCC) method. IDPs are available only as microscopic samples, and simulated IDPs are needed to study their chemical and catalytic effects. To produce such simulated IDPs, we formed nanoparticles from carbonaceous chondrite meteorites by LVCC processing. The compositions, morphologies, particle size distribution, FTIR spectra, and catalytic properties of the meteorite-based nanoparticles were investigated and compared with the original meteorite materials and reference minerals.