Xenon capture: adressing the missing-xenon paradox

The “missing-xenon paradox” describes Earth’s atmospheric xenon depletion, suggesting unknown crustal reservoirs. Xenon’s polarizability in known to enable physical trapping, as in clathrates, but this project investigates the idea of sequestration via trapping from molten sulfur phases. Both xenon and sulfur are polarizable elements with potential for favorable interactions, but the stable S₈ allotrope lacks encapsulation capacity due to the small ring size. However, molten sulfur’s reorganizing chains/rings—form a dynamic combinatorial library. This project hypothesizes that xenon templating during sulfur crystallization could yield stable complexes, explaining its geological retention. The project combines crystallization under pressure with structural characterization. Parallel computational screening will identify sulfur structures with optimal xenon-binding capabilities. Validating xenon’s interaction with sulfur could inform new extraction and recovery strategies.