RUI: Characterization of Reactive Transients in Heterogeneous Atmospheric Photochemistry

有了这个奖项，化学系的环境化学科学计划资助高露洁大学的Ephraim Woods教授研究由光与气溶胶粒子相互作用产生的短寿命化学物种，这些粒子与对流层中发现的粒子相似。这项工作的一个目标是确定通过光化学促进有机气溶胶颗粒生长的条件。 这些二次有机气溶胶粒子通过影响地球的辐射平衡而影响气候。 就更广泛的科学影响而言，这项研究有望更好地了解影响气候的过程，并帮助科学家建立更好的预测模型。 另一个影响是科尔盖特大学进行这项工作的本科生的专业发展。 在参与这个项目的团队成员，本科生获得的研究方法的经验，并成为更好地准备在science.Experiments在这个项目中的研究气溶胶系统中使用光电离方法光化学产生的瞬态物种的研究。一种类型的实验将探测二次有机气溶胶（SOA）的形成，通过与颗粒相三重态光敏剂的挥发性有机分子（VOC）的反应性吸收。这项工作的目标是进一步了解空气-颗粒界面的结构和形态如何影响这种新发现的SOA形成机制的动力学。另一种类型的实验研究从含硝酸盐的颗粒中产生自由基。 第三个实验的特点溶剂化电子在环境中是未探索的，不能通过其他实验。 在这些研究中，对气溶胶特性和表面的调查有望建立对这些复杂化学系统的更好的分子水平的理解。

With this award, the Environmental Chemical Sciences Program of the Division of Chemistry is funding Professor Ephraim Woods of Colgate University to study short-lived chemical species that are generated by the interaction of light with aerosol particles which are similar to those found in the troposphere. One goal of the work is to determine the conditions that promote the growth of organic aerosol particles through photochemistry. These secondary organic aerosol particles influence climate through their effects on the Earth's radiation balance. In terms of broader scientific impact, this research is expected to lead to a better understanding of the processes that affect climate and help scientists to forge improved predictive models. Another impact is the professional development of the undergraduates at Colgate University who conduct this work. In participating as team members on this project, undergraduates gain experience in research methods and become better prepared for graduate work in the sciences.Experiments in this project are designed to examine photochemically generated transient species in aerosol systems using photoionization methods. One type of experiment will probe the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) through the reactive uptake of volatile organic molecules (VOCs) with particle phase triplet photosensitizers. The goal of this work is to further understand how the structure and morphology of the air-particle interface influences the kinetics of this newly identified SOA formation mechanism. Another type of experiment investigates the production of radicals from nitrate-containing particles. A third experiment characterizes solvated electrons in environments that are unexplored and not accessible through other experiments. The investigation of aerosol properties and surfaces in these studies is expected to establish an improved molecular-level understanding of these complex chemical systems.