Heterogeneous Reactions on Aluminum Oxide Surfaces Modeling Rocket Exhaust Particles

摘要

This research was performed by a graduate student, and post-doctoral research fellow. Our studies for the hydroxylation and dehydroxylation of a- Al2O3 (001) led to two publications. The adsorption of H2O on a-Al2O3 (001) was accepted and published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. The desorption of H2O from a-Al2O3 (001) was accepted and published in Surface Science. The study of HCl adsorption and desorption from a-Al1O3 (001) led to one publication in Surface Science. In addition, the study of HCl and H2O adsorption on a Al2O3 (001) and the displacement of Al-OH surface species by HCl and displacement of Al-Cl surface species by H2O led to one additional manuscript that is still under review. Since the conclusion of this research grant, we have continued to examine the surface chemistry of amorphous Al2O3 surfaces. Oxide surface chemistry is still a largely unexplored area. Our surface reactivity studies have helped to define this new territory in surface science. These studies have also improved our understanding of heterogeneous reactions on aluminum oxide rocket exhaust particles in the atmosphere.