Reactive Intermediates in Atmospheric and Combustion Chemistry. Reactive intermediates are the key species that determine outcomes of the chemical reaction networks in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. However, most reactive intermediates remain undiscovered. The project aims to discover these intermediates using laser spectroscopy. Current models of atmospheric chemistry cannot account for the carbon balance over forests, nor the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Combustion models st ....Reactive Intermediates in Atmospheric and Combustion Chemistry. Reactive intermediates are the key species that determine outcomes of the chemical reaction networks in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. However, most reactive intermediates remain undiscovered. The project aims to discover these intermediates using laser spectroscopy. Current models of atmospheric chemistry cannot account for the carbon balance over forests, nor the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Combustion models struggle to predict how next-generation fuels burn in modern engines. The successful discovery of these intermediates would allow models to be more accurate and predictive. This will allow scientists, engineers and policy makers to make more informed decisions about atmospheric processes and design more efficient new fuels.Read moreRead less
Efficient and convergent first-principles chemical dynamics. This project develops a new method for studying chemical systems using first principles quantum mechanics. The new method can solve a much larger range of chemical problems than its predecessors, allowing detailed and accurate descriptions of reactions and dynamics driven by thermal energy or activated by light.
Transformation of organics in the unpolluted atmosphere. This project will develop the chemistry needed to model the removal of methane and other organic compounds from the unpolluted atmosphere. While the chemistry of urban environments is now understood, there are major shortcomings when describing remote environments, limiting our ability to model the lifetimes of key greenhouse gases and toxins.
How do biomolecules control excited-state dynamics? This project will use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to find out why non-fluorescent dyes become fluorescent when they bind certain biomolecules. This project's science will help guide the development of smart, biomimetic energy technologies and increase our understanding of how light powers living things.