Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles
Knowledge about the chemical composition of aerosol particles is essential to understand their formation and evolution in the atmosphere. Due to analytical limitations, however, relatively little information is available for sub-10 nm particles. We present the design of a nano-cloud condensation nuc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2015-05-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/2161/2015/amt-8-2161-2015.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818931446921822208 |
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| author | Z. Wang H. Su X. Wang N. Ma A. Wiedensohler U. Pöschl Y. Cheng |
| author_facet | Z. Wang H. Su X. Wang N. Ma A. Wiedensohler U. Pöschl Y. Cheng |
| author_sort | Z. Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Knowledge about the chemical composition of aerosol particles is essential to
understand their formation and evolution in the atmosphere. Due to
analytical limitations, however, relatively little information is available
for sub-10 nm particles. We present the design of a nano-cloud condensation
nuclei counter (nano-CCNC) for measuring size-resolved hygroscopicity and
inferring chemical composition of sub-10 nm aerosol particles. We extend the
use of counting efficiency spectra from a water-based condensation particle
counter (CPC) and link it to the analysis of CCN activation spectra, which
provides a theoretical basis for the application of a scanning
supersaturation CPC (SS-CPC) as a nano-CCNC. Measurement procedures and data
analysis methods are demonstrated through laboratory experiments with
monodisperse particles of diameter down to 2.5 nm, where sodium chloride,
ammonium sulfate, sucrose and tungsten oxide can be easily discriminated by
different characteristic supersaturations of water droplet formation. A
near-linear relationship between hygroscopicity parameter κ and
organic mass fraction is also found for sucrose-ammonium sulfate mixtures.
The design is not limited to the water CPC, but also applies to CPCs with
other working fluids (e.g. butanol, perfluorotributylamine). We suggest that
a combination of SS-CPCs with multiple working fluids may provide further
insight into the chemical composition of nanoparticles and the role of
organic and inorganic compounds in the initial steps of atmospheric new
particle formation and growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:16:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a016332d02b4f66b21e48364870da00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:16:44Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a016332d02b4f66b21e48364870da002022-12-21T19:53:46ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482015-05-01852161217210.5194/amt-8-2161-2015Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticlesZ. Wang0H. Su1X. Wang2N. Ma3A. Wiedensohler4U. Pöschl5Y. Cheng6Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz 55128, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz 55128, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz 55128, GermanyLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, GermanyLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig 04318, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz 55128, GermanyMultiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz 55128, GermanyKnowledge about the chemical composition of aerosol particles is essential to understand their formation and evolution in the atmosphere. Due to analytical limitations, however, relatively little information is available for sub-10 nm particles. We present the design of a nano-cloud condensation nuclei counter (nano-CCNC) for measuring size-resolved hygroscopicity and inferring chemical composition of sub-10 nm aerosol particles. We extend the use of counting efficiency spectra from a water-based condensation particle counter (CPC) and link it to the analysis of CCN activation spectra, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of a scanning supersaturation CPC (SS-CPC) as a nano-CCNC. Measurement procedures and data analysis methods are demonstrated through laboratory experiments with monodisperse particles of diameter down to 2.5 nm, where sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, sucrose and tungsten oxide can be easily discriminated by different characteristic supersaturations of water droplet formation. A near-linear relationship between hygroscopicity parameter κ and organic mass fraction is also found for sucrose-ammonium sulfate mixtures. The design is not limited to the water CPC, but also applies to CPCs with other working fluids (e.g. butanol, perfluorotributylamine). We suggest that a combination of SS-CPCs with multiple working fluids may provide further insight into the chemical composition of nanoparticles and the role of organic and inorganic compounds in the initial steps of atmospheric new particle formation and growth.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/2161/2015/amt-8-2161-2015.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. Wang H. Su X. Wang N. Ma A. Wiedensohler U. Pöschl Y. Cheng Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| title_full | Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| title_fullStr | Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| title_short | Scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano-CCN counter for size-resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| title_sort | scanning supersaturation condensation particle counter applied as a nano ccn counter for size resolved analysis of the hygroscopicity and chemical composition of nanoparticles |
| url | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/2161/2015/amt-8-2161-2015.pdf |
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