Morphology, Optical Properties, and Chemical Processing of Organic Films on Aqueous Aerosols

科罗拉多大学的Veronica Vaida教授和高级研究助理Roberto Bianco博士由实验物理化学和大气化学项目资助，对含有有机化合物的大气气溶胶进行实验和理论研究。众所周知，有机气溶胶在与太阳辐射和地球气候的相互作用以及人类呼吸系统有关的问题中起着重要作用。粒子的结构、性质和动力学尚不清楚。该提案旨在结合新的实验方法，包括电喷雾胶束到气相与广泛的理论方法阵列，以表征不同pH的水颗粒包被两亲体。研究的三个方面是：通过光散射得到气溶胶的详细分子形态，接着是气相分子与气溶胶的非反应性相互作用的光谱研究，最后是气溶胶表面的反应。Bianco博士运用分子动力学、随机动力学建模和量子力学的理论工作将与实验研究并行。利用获得的数据和物理模型，pi将与位于博尔德的美国国家海洋和大气管理局的大气化学家进行互动，以评估有机大气气溶胶对大气中太阳辐射吸收的影响。这些信息是精确模拟和预测全球气候变化所必需的。瓦伊达教授的教育工作包括向丹佛地区的西班牙裔学生伸出援手。

Professor Veronica Vaida of the University of Colorado and a senior research associate, Dr. Roberto Bianco, are funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry and Atmospheric Chemistry programs to perform experimental and theoretical studies on atmospheric aerosols containing organic compounds. Organic aerosols are known to be important in problems related to the interaction of solar radiation and Earth's climate and to the human respiratory system. Structures, properties and dynamics of the particles are not well understood. This proposal seeks to combine new experimental methods including micelles electrosprayed into the gas phase with a wide array of theoretical methods to characterize aqueous particles of varying pH coated with amphiphiles. Three aspects are to be studied: the detailed molecular morphology of the aerosols by light scattering, followed by spectroscopic studies of non-reactive interactions of gas phase molecules with the aerosols, and finally, reactions on aerosol surfaces. Theoretical work by Dr. Bianco using molecular dynamics, stochastic kinetic modeling and quantum mechanics will parallel the experimental studies. Using the acquired data and physical models, the PIs will interact with atmospheric chemists at NOAA in Boulder to evaluate the effect of organic atmospheric aerosols on the absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere. This information is required for accurate modeling and prediction of global climate changes.Professor Vaida's educational efforts include outreach to Hispanic students in the Denver area.