Objective This goal of this project is to obtain a deeper, molecular level understanding of chemical reactions important to atmospheric and planetary chemistry, specifically reactions involved in the oxidation of organic sulfur molecules. A common theme to experimentally determining chemical reaction rates is to monitor the disappearance of a reactant, perhaps even under pseudo-first order conditions. An ideal experiment, however, would monitor the loss of each reactant and the appearance of each product, under known temperature and pressure conditions, in order to gain a more complete picture of the reaction. This project is a significant step towards the ideal kinetic experiment. Here, mid-infrared cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy (CE-DFCS), a technology used almost exclusively in the physics community, will be used as a tool in the chemistry community to spectroscopically identify reactants, transient species, and products based on their vibrational absorption spectra. This is a rapid, sensitive, broadband, and high-resolution technique, which enables reaction rates to be derived based on the simultaneous measurement of both the reactant disappearance and product appearance. Moreover, CE-DFCS will be coupled to a pulsed Laval supersonic expansion, an essentially wall-less reactor with well-characterized pressure and temperature conditions. Temperature dependent rate constants will be measured over a wide temperature range, relevant to Earth’s atmosphere or even parts of the interstellar medium. This project has a strong interdisciplinary component, combining optical physics, fundamental physical chemistry, and atmospheric chemistry. This attribute arises from the significant two-way transfer of knowledge between the researcher and the Atmospheric and Planetary Chemistry group at the University of Leeds. In addition, the fellow will receive training during the tenure of the fellowship to enable her to become a successful independent scientist. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopyabsorption spectroscopynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencescelestial mechanicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsnatural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address Woodhouse lane LS2 9JT Leeds GB See on map Region Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
