Projects

AEROSOL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Atmospheric organic aerosols may be formed via oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the majority of which are emitted by biogenic sources. Upon oxidation, a single SOA precursor produces hundreds of products, greatly complicating chemical analysis of atmospheric SOA. We have developed an aerosol mass spectrometer that uses a soft ionization method to prevent molecular fragmentation during measurement, greatly facilitating chemical analysis of SOA particles.

PARTICLE BOUNCE

We have developed a method to infer SOA particle phase in near real-time. The method relies on measuring the number of particles that bounce when impacted at high speed upon a flat surface. So far, we have applied this method to study the dynamic phase state of SOA generated from a number of precursors, including terpenes and green leaf volatiles.

WATER CHEMISTRY IMPACTS ON NEW PARTICLE FORMATION

Water plays important roles in the fate of organic aerosols in our atmosphere. A great deal of work has been carried out by others on the physical aspects of water’s role, such as condensation, cloud formation, solubilization, etc. However, very little effort has been expended so far on the chemical role of water in the formation of organic aerosol or on the subsequent ramifications of the water-modified chemistry on particle aging, fate and atmospheric roles. 

SCIENCE EDUCATION (Hidden Oceans podcast)

Science education and communication remain significant challenges, even in our technological world. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) continue to be under-represented in most K-12 curricula and so the number of students entering careers in the STEM disciplines is lacking. Furthermore, diversity in STEM remains limited. We are developing a series of podcasts focused on chemistry targeted to different group levels in K-12.


 
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