Have you ever wondered how sunlight can spark chemical reactions in the air we breathe? In this project, we study light-driven chemistry on aerosol surfaces—how light interacts with chemicals stuck to the surface of tiny airborne particles called aerosols. These reactions can change the composition of our atmosphere and play a key role in environmental processes like air pollution and climate.
Our team uses a variety of tools to explore these surface reactions, including vibrational spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), computational chemistry, and solar simulators that mimic sunlight in the lab. Our experiments help us understand how light and surfaces together can promote the formation of reactive molecules such as HONO (nitrous acid), which influences the nitrogen cycle and affects the chemistry of the atmosphere.
We investigate several types of aerosols, from natural ones like sea spray and mineral dust to man-made particles and lab-created models that mimic them. This research combines hands-on lab work, instrumentation, and environmental relevance—perfect for students curious about chemistry at the Earth’s surface.
Interested in helping uncover the daytime chemical pathways that shape our atmosphere? Join us and be part of this exciting exploration.