Investigating the fate of atmospherically relevant organosulfate monolayers at the air-water interface

The proposal will use neutron reflectometry to investigate the oxidation of atmospherically relevant organosulfate films at the air-water interface by gaseous ozone. Organosulfate compounds constitute a large fraction of aerosol organic material and there is a significant lack of understanding regarding their transformation and fate in the atmosphere. Such compounds are surface active and can influence cloud droplet formation thus impacting the climate. The goal is to determine the oxidation kinetics of organosulfate films and to determine if any material remains at the air-water interface. Additionally, the influence of the chemical structure of the starting material (number of double bonds) on the oxidation kinetics will be determined. Overall, the study will inform on the fate of atmospherically relevant organosulfates to oxidation by gaseous ozone.