Dust evolution, a global view: I. Nano-particles, nascence, nitrogen and
  natural selection . . . joining the dots
  The role and importance of nano-particles for interstellar chemistry and
beyond is explored within the framework of The Heterogeneous dust Evolution
Model at the IaS (THEMIS), focussing on their active surface chemistry
(nascence), the effects of nitrogen doping and the natural selection of
interesting nano-particle sub-structures. Nano-particle driven chemistry, and
in particular the role of intrinsic epoxide-type structures could provide a
viable route to the observed gas phase OH in tenuous interstellar clouds en
route to becoming molecular clouds. The aromatic-rich moieties present in
asphaltenes likely provide a viable model for the structures present within
aromatic-rich interstellar carbonaceous grains. The observed doping of such
nano-particle structures with nitrogen, if also prevalent in interstellar dust,
is likely to have important and observable consequences for surface chemistry
and the formation of pre-cursor pre-biotic species.
