Science Daily April 14, 2022
Researchers in Switzerland reported that optical confinement could create spatial structuring of the light intensity inside the particle and thereby cause corresponding variations of photochemical rates. They probed single iron(III)–citrate particles using the iron oxidation state as a photochemical marker. Based on the results, they predicted an overall acceleration of photochemical reactions by a factor of two to three for most classes of atmospheric aerosol particles. Rotation of free aerosol particles and intraparticle molecular transport generally accelerate the photochemistry. According to the researchers, given the prevalence of optical confinement effects, their influence on aerosol particle photochemistry should be considered by atmospheric models…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE