Development of Analytical Chemistry Methods for Characterization of Individual Aerosol Particles

该项目得到分析和表面化学方案的支持，重点是开发和实验校准飞行时间质谱仪，用于同时测定气溶胶的大小和化学成分。在这项为期三年的持续资助期间，普拉瑟教授和她在加州大学河滨分校的学生将利用他们在激光光谱学方面的专业知识，开发一种独特的仪器能力，利用这种能力可以解决大气环境化学中的基本化学问题。多个激光与飞行时间质谱仪的结合，使得同时进行气溶胶的尺寸和成分分析所需的复杂时间和高灵敏度成为可能。这一仪器开发项目将使环境科学家能够同时确定气溶胶颗粒的大小和化学成分，这是大气质量的主要决定因素。预计这种仪器设计将很快被纳入商业仪器中。

This project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, focusses on the development and experimental calibration of a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer for the simultaneous determination of the size and chemical composition of aerosols. During the tenure of this three year continuing grant, Professor Prather and her students at the University of California at Riverside will draw upon their expertise in laser spectroscopy to develop a unique instrumental capability with which fundamental chemical issues underlying atmospheric environmental chemistry can be addressed. The combination of multiple lasers with TOF mass spectrometry enables the intricate timing and high sensitivity necessary for the simultaneous size and composition analysis of aerosols. This instrument development project will provide environmental scientists with the ability to simultaneously determine the size and chemical composition of aerosol particles which are major determinants of atmospheric quality. It is expected that this instrumental design will be rapidly incorporated into commercial instruments.