Multiphase Chemistry Group

The Multiphase Chemistry group performs laboratory studies related to the chemistry, photochemistry and kinetics of atmospheric multiphase processes involving organic, halogen, nitrogen oxide and odd oxygen species on substrates relevant for aerosol particles, cirrus ice, ocean surface, soil surfaces, snow and sea ice. Understanding these processes is relevant for the assessment of the human impact on atmospheric composition, climate, human and ecosystem health.
We use a combination of in-situ spectroscopy, flow tube and chamber techniques to cover scales from molecular level world of interfaces to the microstructure in aerosol particles and to the mesosopic medium of snow.
We educate young scientists in laboratory atmospheric chemistry within the frame of the Institute of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences (IAC) at ETH Zürich (Department of Environmental Systems Sciences, D-USYS).

overview ReCLEAN

ReCLEAN - Reactive nitrogen at the CLimate, Energy, Agriculture, water, and health Nexus

ETH Domain Joint Initiative: Reactive nitrogen at the CLimate, Energy, Agriculture, water, and health Nexus (ReCLEAN)

Aerosol Multiphase Photochemistry

Multiphase Photochemistry

The interplay between reactive oxygen species and the multiphase chemistry of nitrogen, halogen and secondary organic species in aerosol particles. Reactive oxygen species are at the origin of redox processes within the aqueous phase of aerosol particles containing secondary organic and inorganic species. The consequences are halogen and nitrogen oxides recycling, formation and loss of organics, which are all implicated in atmospheric oxidation capacity as well as the burden and health impact of aerosol particles. 

AcidBaseIce

Interfacial Ice Chemistry

Interfacial Ice Chemistry: Photolysis and Acid-Base Equilibria in the QLL and Brine. Dissociation and photochemistry of nitric acid and nitrous acid at frozen and liquid air-water interfaces have since long attracted scientific interest, most notably due to the pivotal role that this surface chemistry plays in modifying the nitrogen oxide budget and thus the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere.

Confinement

Chemistry of confined water

The hydrogen bonding network of interfacial nano-confinements in clay. Clays are composed of crystalline aluminosilicate layers that may be held together by hydrogen bonds of embedded water. This project investigates the local chemical environment of ions in the interlayer space of clay and the structure of the hydrogen-bonding network at subfreezing temperatures.

teaser for STXM

Scanning Transmission Microscopy for Environmental and Energy Research

We develop Scanning Transmission X-ray Microspectroscopy for environmental and energy research at the Swiss Light Source.

Napp

X-ray excited photoelectron spectroscopy for environmental science

We investigate multiphase chemistry of atmospheric relevance at the air-water and air-solid interfaces using X-ray excited electron spectroscopy  at the SIM & Phoenix & ISS endstations at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) and the ALS at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Evolution of a research project

FAIR data visualization

IVDAV : Instant and versatile data visualization during the current dark period of the life cycle of FAIR research. This project develops changes to current data treatment exploring and prototyping processes to foster teamwork, effective communication, and improved data visualization to the benefit of the entire atmospheric chemistry research community. 

A complete publication list is available at the institutional repository (DORA PSI).

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