Fundamental Studies of Nanoparticle Formation in Air Pollution

Goals

Nanoparticles in the environment affect human health, atmospheric chemistry, and the overall perception that air quality is degraded, in a manner that is disproportionate to their rather low mass concentrations. How this ultrafine material arises during fuel combustion, incineration, or as a result of gas phase atmospheric processes is still not well understood from a molecular perspective. The goal of our integrated experimental and theoretical program is to elucidate at a molecular level the processes of nanoparticle production in systems that are important to air pollution. The key topics to be addressed include (1) nucleation in aqueous systems, (2) soot inception, and (3) nucleation in the atmosphere.

This project provides research and educational opportunities for graduate students, undergraduates and postdoctoral fellows in a unique multidiciplinary enviroment.

Nuggets: Broader impacts