Issue 5, 2022

Solvent and cosolute dependence of Mg surface enrichment in submicron aerosol particles

Abstract

The formation of multicomponent aerosol particles from precursor solution droplets often involves segregation and surface enrichment of the different solutes, resulting in non-homogeneous particle structures and diverse morphologies. In particular, these effects can have a significant influence on the chemical composition of the particle–vapor interface. In this work, we investigate the bulk/surface partitioning of inorganic ions, Na+, Mg2 +, Ca2 +, Cl and Br, in atomiser-generated submicron aerosols using synchrotron radiation based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, the chemical compositions of the outermost few nm thick surface layers of non-supported MgCl2/CaCl2 and NaBr/MgBr2 particles are determined. It is found that in MgCl2/CaCl2 particles, the relative abundance of the two species in the particle surface correlates well with their mixing ratio in the parent aqueous solution. In stark contrast, extreme surface enrichment of Mg2 + is observed in NaBr/MgBr2 particles formed from both aqueous and organic solution droplets, indicative of core–shell structures. Structural properties and hydration state of the particles are discussed.

Graphical abstract: Solvent and cosolute dependence of Mg surface enrichment in submicron aerosol particles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 oct. 2021
Accepted
14 janv. 2022
First published
14 janv. 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022,24, 2934-2943

Solvent and cosolute dependence of Mg surface enrichment in submicron aerosol particles

E. Pelimanni, C. Saak, G. Michailoudi, N. Prisle, M. Huttula and M. Patanen, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 2934 DOI: 10.1039/D1CP04953D

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