Chemistry Faculty:
Geoff D. Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Phone: 706-583-0478
E-mail: gsmith@chem.uga.edu
Biographical Information
B.S., California Institute of Technology, 1995
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000
Post-doctoral Associate, University of North Carolina, 2000-02
Research Interests
Research in the Smith group focuses on both gas-phase and heterogeneous chemistry of the atmosphere with a particular emphasis on the chemistry of relevance to the troposphere. Research interests include:
- Heterogeneous aerosol chemistry
- Photochemistry of aerosols
- Gas-phase photochemistry
- Gas-phase chemical kinetics
Aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) is a powerful tool for measuring the composition of aerosol particles. Though this technique has found widespread use in the analysis of atmospheric aerosols in the field, little use has been made of the AMS as a tool in laboratory studies. We will use AMS to monitor changes in the composition of individual particles as reactions between gas-phase molecules and aerosol particles take place. Specific research interests include the heterogeneous "processing" of organic aerosols by important atmospheric radicals, such as OH, HO2 and O3, and subsequent reactions within the processed particles. Particle photochemistry will also be investigated by irradiating aerosols with a tunable UV-vis laser that essentially mimics solar radiation in the troposphere.
Chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) will be used for the detection of a wide range of gas-phase species in studying the chemical kinetics and photodissociation yields of molecules of relevance to the chemistry of the troposphere. In addition, CIMS will be coupled to aerosol mass spectrometry to provide information about volatile products from heterogeneous and photochemical processes in the particles. The ability to simultaneously monitor the composition of the gas phase as well as that of the particles will aid in establishing a more complete understanding of the role of aerosol chemistry in the atmosphere.
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Publications
1. “Reactions and Mass Spectra of Complex Particles Using Aerosol CIMS” J.D. Hearn and G.D. Smith, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 258, 95-103 (2006).
2. “A Mixed-Phase Relative Rates Technique for Measuring Aerosol Reaction Kinetics” J.D. Hearn and G.D. Smith, Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L17805 (2006).
3. “Measuring Rates of Reaction in Supercooled Organic Particles with Implications for Atmospheric Aerosol” J.D. Hearn and G.D. Smith, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 7, 2549-2551 (2005).
4. “Ozonolysis of Oleic Acid Particles: Evidence for a Surface Reaction and Secondary Reactions Involving Criegee Intermediates” J.D. Hearn, A.J. Lovett and G.D. Smith, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 7, 501-511 (2005).
5. “Kinetics and Product Studies for Ozonolysis Reactions of Organic Particles Using Aerosol CIMS” J.D. Hearn, G.D. Smith, J. Physical Chemistry A, 108, 10019-10029 (2004).
6. “A Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry Method for the Online Analysis of Organic Aerosols” J.D. Hearn, G.D. Smith, Analytical Chemistry, 76, 2820-2826 (2004).