Chemistry and Microphysics of Atmospheric Aerosol Surfaces: Laboratory Techniques and Applications

Abstract

Abstract A number of current techniques are presented by which the chemistry of interaction of selected gas phase species with atmospheric surfaces as well as the microphysical behaviour of such surfaces can be investigated. The techniques discussed include (i) the coated wall flow tube reactor, (ii) the Knudsen-cell / DRIFT spectroscopy, (iii) the surface aerosol microscopy and (iv) the molecular beam scattering technique. In each of these methods specific and robust information is deduced on the kinetics and thermodynamics of gas adsorption and reaction on surfaces. Specific examples include the adsorption of acetone on ice surfaces, the adsorption and reaction of SO2 on iron oxides, the hygroscopic and phase behaviour of binary and ternary salt solution droplets (ammonium sulphate and ammonium sulphate / dicarboxylic acids solutions) as well as on the dynamics of inelastic collisions of noble gases on super-cooled sulphuric acid surfaces. In addition we also show how quantum chemistry can be utilized to assist in interpreting absorption energies on structurally different ice surfaces. Whilst each example represents different aspects of heterogenous atmospheric interactions, they jointly represent significant progress in laboratory investigations of multi-phase atmospheric chemistry with substantial potential for application to other systems and/or problems.