Surface Chemistry of Indoor Molecular, Nano-, and Microlayers

We propose to the Sloan Foundation's CIE program vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy experiments aimed at understanding, at 1 ATM, 5% to 95% RH, and room temperature, how minute amounts of surface-bound species slowly convert from molecular layers and “Gibbs monolayers” into nano- and microlayers, and how such transformations influence their respective physical and reactive properties. We will tackle this complex problem by pairing the experimental research activities at NU with ongoing research efforts on indoor air chemistry in the Grassian laboratories at UCSD. Moreover, we propose to work closely with the The MOdeling Consortium for Chemistry of Indoor Environments (MOCCIE) team so as to integrate state-of-the-art ambient surface, thin film, and bulk spectroscopy and analytics with advanced multi-scale (atomistic to macroscopic) computer modeling.