Plasma—the fourth state of matter—is all around us, from lightning to the northern lights. In the lab, we use plasma to explore how highly reactive species, like free radicals and atomic oxygen, interact with the surfaces of atmospheric particles.
Using a custom-built plasma reactor known as The Cube, we simulate how hydroxyl radicals (OH) and atomic oxygen react with organic molecules that are stuck to mineral dust surfaces. These experiments help us understand real atmospheric processes, but they also reveal new ways to modify and reuse hydrocarbons—offering insights into sustainable chemistry and materials science.
We also study how ozone reacts with organic coatings on aerosol surfaces, especially how these reactions transform volatile molecules into more hydrophilic compounds that help form clouds. By combining techniques from our plasma and photochemistry experiments, we’re investigating how aerosols are processed in the atmosphere and how these changes impact air quality, climate, and sustainability.
Are you curious about using cutting-edge tools to explore atmospheric chemistry and sustainable materials? Join us and help discover how surface reactions drive change in the environment—and in the lab.