Hamid investigates the Reactivity of Engineered Nanomaterials under Atmospheric Conditions using Surface Sensitive Techniques. Emissions of nanomaterials into the atmosphere can be caused by industrial activities due to combustion of energy sources and manufacturing of nanoparticles. These nanoparticles will have a longer lifetime in the atmosphere than micron-size particles, and hence a larger potential to be transported and to influence the human respiratory system and chemical balance of the atmosphere. The aim of Hamid’s study is to investigate the effect of atmospherically-relevant conditions such as solar irradiation, relative humidity and ambient temperature and pressure on the surface photochemistry of oxides and hydroxides of iron and manganese. In this study a suite of surface sensitive spectroscopic and imaging techniques such as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), thermal desorption/gas chromatography, proton transfer mass spectrometer and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) will be used.

Dr Hamid Firooz
Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemistry