New particle formation (NPF) is a process in which trace vapors in the atmosphere cluster and grow into larger particles. While acid-base clusters are becoming increasingly well studied, the role of water has been difficult to probe. Water exponentially increases the difficulty of searching potential energy surfaces and most experimental sampling techniques evaporate water from clusters of relevance. Recent experimental developments utilizing multiple temperature-controlled ion traps have allowed for mass spectrometric and spectroscopic study of hydrated clusters relevant to NPF. Here, we begin with recently assigned vibrational spectra and structures of small cationic clusters and employ a multi-trap gas phase ion variable temperature mass spectrometry (VTMS) approach to explore the thermodynamics of hydration of clusters. By combining these well assigned spectra and structures with newly probed thermodynamic parameters we can explore the thermodynamics of hydration as function of specific geometries, probing correlations between surface features and hydration.

Complex temperature-dependent hydration behavior of newly formed atmospheric clusters

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.