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- Carlsson, P. T. M., et al.
(author)
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Comparison of isoprene chemical mechanisms under atmospheric night-time conditions in chamber experiments: evidence of hydroperoxy aldehydes and epoxy products from NO3 oxidation
- 2023
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 23:5, s. 3147-3180
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The gas-phase reaction of isoprene with the nitrate radical (NO3) was investigated in experiments in the outdoor SAPHIR chamber under atmospherically relevant conditions specifically with respect to the chemical lifetime and fate of nitrato-organic peroxy radicals (RO2). Observations of organic products were compared to concentrations expected from different chemical mechanisms: (1) the Master Chemical Mechanism, which simplifies the NO3 isoprene chemistry by only considering one RO2 isomer; (2) the chemical mechanism derived from experiments in the Caltech chamber, which considers different RO2 isomers; and (3) the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism derived from quantum chemical calculations, which in addition to the Caltech mechanism includes equilibrium reactions of RO(2 )isomers, unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO(2 )radicals and epoxidation reactions of nitrate alkoxy radicals. Measurements using mass spectrometer instruments give evidence that the new reactions pathways predicted by quantum chemical calculations play a role in the NO3 oxidation of isoprene. Hydroperoxy aldehyde (HPALD) species, which are specific to unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO2, were detected even in the presence of an OH scavenger, excluding the possibility that concurrent oxidation by hydroxyl radicals (OH) is responsible for their formation. In addition, ion signals at masses that can be attributed to epoxy compounds, which are specific to the epoxidation reaction of nitrate alkoxy radicals, were detected. Measurements of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MACR) concentrations confirm that the decomposition of nitrate alkoxy radicals implemented in the Caltech mechanism cannot compete with the ring-closure reactions predicted by quantum chemical calculations. The validity of the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism is further supported by a good agreement between measured and simulated hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity. Nevertheless, the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism needs further investigations with respect to the absolute importance of unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO2 and epoxidation reactions of nitrate alkoxy radicals. Absolute concentrations of specific organic nitrates such as nitrate hydroperoxides would be required to experimentally determine product yields and branching ratios of reactions but could not be measured in the chamber experiments due to the lack of calibration standards for these compounds. The temporal evolution of mass traces attributed to product species such as nitrate hydroperoxides, nitrate carbonyl and nitrate alcohols as well as hydroperoxy aldehydes observed by the mass spectrometer instruments demonstrates that further oxidation by the nitrate radical and ozone at atmospheric concentrations is small on the timescale of one night (12 h) for typical oxidant concentrations. However, oxidation by hydroxyl radicals present at night and potentially also produced from the decomposition of nitrate alkoxy radicals can contribute to their nocturnal chemical loss.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Brownwood, B., et al.
(author)
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Gas-Particle Partitioning and SOA Yields of Organonitrate Products from NO3-Initiated Oxidation of Isoprene under Varied Chemical Regimes
- 2021
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In: Acs Earth and Space Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2472-3452. ; 5:4, s. 785-800
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alkyl nitrate (AN) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the reaction of nitrate radicals (NO3) with isoprene were observed in the Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction (SAPHIR) chamber during the NO(3)Isop campaign in August 2018. Based on 15 day-long experiments under various reaction conditions, we conclude that the reaction has a nominally unity molar AN yield (observed range 90 +/- 40%) and an SOA mass yield of OA + organic nitrate aerosol of 13-15% (with similar to 50 mu g m(-3) inorganic seed aerosol and 2-5 mu g m-3 total organic aerosol). Isoprene (5-25 ppb) and oxidant (typically similar to 100 ppb O-3 and 5-25 ppb NO2) concentrations and aerosol composition (inorganic and organic coating) were varied while remaining close to ambient conditions, producing similar AN and SOA yields under all regimes. We observe the formation of dinitrates upon oxidation of the second double bond only once the isoprene precursor is fully consumed. We determine the bulk partitioning coefficient for ANs (K-p similar to 10(-3) m(3) mu g(-1)), indicating an average volatility corresponding to a C-5 hydroxy hydroperoxy nitrate.
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| 4. |
- Mashoff, T., et al.
(author)
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Bistability and Oscillatory Motion of Natural Nanomembranes Appearing within Monolayer Graphene on Silicon Dioxide
- 2010
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In: Nano letters (Print). - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 10:2, s. 461-465
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The truly two-dimensional material graphene is an ideal candidate for nanoelectromechanics due to its large strength and mobility. Here we show that graphene flakes provide natural nanomembranes of diameter down to 3 nm within its intrinsic rippling. The membranes can be lifted either reversibly or hysteretically by the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The clamped-membrane model including van-der-Waals and dielectric forces explains the results quantitatively. AC-fields oscillate the membranes, which might lead to a completely novel approach to controlled quantized oscillations or single atom mass detection.
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