Environmental Interfacial Chemistry of Dynamic Natural and Engineered Nanoparticles

美国国家科学基金会化学部的环境化学科学计划支持华盛顿大学的Young-Shin Jun教授的研究，他将研究复杂环境界面上的重要成核过程。通过现场实时和非现场观察，研究人员将阐明由于铁离子的存在而产生的赤铁矿和氧化铈纳米相的转变。纳米颗粒-纳米颗粒和纳米颗粒-矿物表面的关系将在有和没有天然有机物质涂层的情况下进行研究。该项目的反应系统将在阐明自然和工程水生系统(如废水处理厂)中环境和工程NPs和生物膜的物理和化学演变的关键信息方面既新颖又有利。此外，传输研究和废水分析将使纳米颗粒-腐植酸-污染物系统在模拟地下水和废水中的横向混合程度与系统聚集的速度联系起来。在这个项目中，Jun教授将在华盛顿大学科学外展办公室的支持下，与密苏里州当地K-12学校的教师合作，开发用于教授水质概念的教育工具包。通过与作为研究科学家的学生和教师计划(STAR)、华盛顿大学本科生研究体验计划(REU)和华盛顿大学本科生研究室的合作，研究人员将招募高中生和本科生早期参与科学研究项目，通过基于项目的方法培养他们的创造力和好奇心。

The Environmental Chemical Sciences Program in the Chemistry Division at the National Science Foundation supports the research of Professor Young-Shin Jun at Washington University who will investigate important nucleation processes at complex environmental interfaces. Through both in situ real-time and ex situ observations, the investigator will articulate the transformation of hematite and cerium oxide nanophases due to the presence of ferric ions. The nanoparticle-nanoparticle and nanoparticle-mineral surface relationships will be investigated with and without natural organic matter coatings. The project's reaction system will be both novel and advantageous in elucidating crucial information about the physical and chemical evolution of environmental and engineered NPs and biofilm in natural and engineered aquatic systems, such as wastewater treatment plants. In addition, transport studies and effluent analysis will allow connecting the degree of transverse mixing of the nanoparticles-humic acid-contaminant system in simulated groundwater and wastewater with the rate of system aggregation. In this project, Professor Jun will develop an educational kit for teaching water quality concepts with support from Washington University's Science Outreach Office and collaboration with teachers from local K-12 schools in Missouri. Through collaboration with the Students and Teachers as Research Scientists program (STARS), the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Washington University, and the Undergraduate Research Office at Washington University, the investigator will recruit high school and undergraduate students for early involvement in scientific research projects, cultivating their creativity and curiosity via a project-based approach.