Atmospheric, Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry
1970 Woodrow Wilson Fellowship
1979 Elected one of the Outstanding Young Women of America
1993 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
1994 Japan Society of the Promotion of Science Fellowship
1999 Orange County Section of the American Chemical Society "Service Through Chemistry" Award
2000 UCI Graduate Voice Faculty Mentor Award
2002 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
2004 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science & Technology
2006 Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
2006 Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
2006 Named UCI Distinguished Professor
2008 Tolman Medal of the Southern California Section of the American Chemical Society
2009 Coalition for Clean Air Carl Moyer Award for Scientific Leadership and Technical Excellence
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at
Riverside
The field of atmospheric chemistry encompasses the chemical and physical processes which play key roles in the natural and polluted atmosphere, from urban to remote areas and from the lower to the upper atmosphere. Understanding these processes requires field measurements, the development, testing and application of models, and laboratory studies of kinetics and mechanisms. Research in our laboratory is directed primarily to elucidating the fundamental kinetics, mechanisms and photochemistry of relevant gaseous reactions as well as heterogeneous processes at the surfaces of, and in, particles. We have a number of collaborations with faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, as well as at other institutions, that help to develop an integrated understanding of these systems from the molecular level to ambient air
There are three overall systems of current interest: (1) the reactions of sea salt particles to generate photochemically active halogen gases such as Cl2, Br2 and BrCl; (2) reactions of oxides of nitrogen at aqueous interfaces and in thin water films on surfaces to generate HONO and other species such as HNO3 and N2O, and (3) reactions of organics in and on particles. Experimental approaches used for elucidating the chemistry of these systems include Knudsen cell studies, long path FTIR, GC and GC-MS, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometry (DRIFTS) and single reflectance FTIR. Attenuated total reflectance FTIR (ATR-FTIR) is being applied to study the oxidation of organics in real time. In addition, a 560 L aerosol chamber equipped with particle generation and sizing systems, long path FTIR, differential optical absorption spectrometry (DOAS)and atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (API-MS) is applied to studying the interactions of gases with particles in real time. A second system has been developed in which both gases and the thin aqueous films can both be followed in real time. A new large volume, slow flow aerosol system has recently been constructed, characterized and applied to studies of mechanisms of the formation and growth of new particles from the oxidation of gaseous organic precursors in air
Our research is funded by NSF and DOE. We are part of a collaborative group funded by NSF that is focused on understanding processes at the air-water interface in the atmosphere and their impacts on air quality and global climate change. In this project, experimental, theoretical and airshed kinetics modeling studies are combined to provide a unique approach to understanding processes at the air-water interface and their implications for atmospheric chemistry. This is part of a larger campus-wide group, AirUCI,that integrates research and education in air pollution, energy and air quality, and its impacts on human health.
Non-Equilibrium Atmospheric Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation and Growth, V. Perraud, E. A. Bruns, M. J. Ezell, S. N. Johnson, Y. Yu, M. L. Alexander, A. Zelenyuk, D. Imre, W. L. Chang, D. Dabdub, J. F. Pankow and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts,
PNAS 109 2836 (2012) doi 10.1073/pnas.1119909109
Analysis of Secondary Organic Aerosols in Air Using Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (EESI-MS), L. Doezema, T. Longin, W. Cody, V. Perraud, M. L. Dawson, M. J. Ezell, J. Greaves, K. R. Johnson, and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts,
RSC Advances 2 2930 (2012)
Reactions at Surfaces in the Atmosphere: Integration of Experiments and Theory as Necessary (But Not Necessarily Sufficient) For Predicting Physical and Chemical Processes of Aerosols, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 11 7760 (2009) doi 10.1039/b906540g (cover article)
Chlorine Activation Indoors and Outdoors via Surface-Mediated Reactions of Nitrogen Oxides with Hydrogen Chloride, J. D. Raff, B. Njeglic, W. L. Chang, M. S. Gordon, D. Dabdub, R. B. Gerber and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, PNAS 106 13647 (2009) doi 10.1073/pnas.0904195106 (feature and cover article)
Secondary Ozonide Formation from the Ozone Oxidation of Unsaturated Self–Assembled Monolayers on Zinc Selenide Attenuated Total Reflectance Crystals, T. M. McIntire, O. Ryder and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. C 113 11060 (2009) doi 10.1021/jp901535t
Ionization of N2O4 in Contact with Water: Mechanism, Timescales and Atmospheric Implications, Y. Miller, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and R. B. Gerber, JACS 131 12180 (2009) doi 10.1021/ja900350g
Contamination from Electrically Conductive Silicone Tubing During Aerosol Chemical Analysis, Y. Yu, M. L. Alexander, V. Perraud, E. A. Bruns, S. N. Johnson, M. J. Ezell and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Atmos. Environ. 43 2836 (2009) doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.02.014
Probing the Sensitivity of Gaseous Br2 Production from the Oxidation of Aqueous Bromide-Containing Aerosols and Atmospheric Implications, P. Nissenson, D. M. Packwood, S. W. Hunt, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and D. Dabdub, Atmos. Environ. 43 3951 (2009) doi 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.04.006
Experimental and Theoretical Characterization of Water Uptake on Self-Assembled Monolayers: Understanding the Interaction of Water with Atmospherically Relevant Surfaces, S. G. Moussa, T. M. McIntire, M. Szori, M. Roeselova, D. J. Tobias, R. L. Grimm, J. C. Hemminger and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 113 2060 (2009) doi: 10.1021/jp808710n
Nitrite-Induced Oxidation of Organic Coatings on Models for Airborne Particles, F. Karagulian, C. W. Dilbeck and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 113 7205 (2008) doi: 10.1021/jp808419g
Unusual Oxidation of Organics at Interfaces from the Bottom Up, and Atmospheric Implications, F. Karagulian, C. W. Dilbeck and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, JACS 130 11272 (2008)
Complexes of HNO3 and NO3- with NO2 and Its Dimer, and Their Potential Role in Atmospheric HONO Formation, M. A. Kamboures, J. D. Raff, Y. Miller, L. F. Phillips, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and R. B. Gerber, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 10 6019 (2008) doi: 10.1039/b805330H
Enhanced Surface Photochemistry in Chloride-Nitrate Ion Mixtures, L. M. Wingen, A. C. Moskun, S. N. Johnson, J. L. Thomas, M. Roeselová, D. J. Tobias, M. T. Kleinman and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 10 5668 (2008)
Nitrate Ion Photochemistry at Interfaces: A New Mechanism for Oxidation of α-Pinene, Y. Yu, M. J. Ezell, A. Zelenyuk, D. Imre, M. L. Alexander, J. Ortega, J. J. Thomas, K. Gogna, D. J. Tobias, B. D'Anna, C. W. Harmon, S. N. Johnson and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 10 3063 (2008) doi: 10.1039/b719495a
Photooxidation of α-Pinene at High Relative Humidity in the Presence of Increasing Concentrations of NOx, Y. Yu, M. J. Ezell, A. Zelenyuk, D. Imre, M. L. Alexander, J. Ortega, B. D'Anna, C. W. Harmon, S. N. Johnson and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Atmos. Environ. 42 5044 (2008) doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.02.026
Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of the Mechanism of Gas-Phase Chlorine Production from NaCl Aerosols in the MAGIC Model, P. Nissenson, J. L. Thomas, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and D. Dabdub, Atmos. Env. 42 6934 (2008)
A New Mechanism for Ozonolysis of Unsaturated Organics on Solids: Phosphocholines on NaCl as a Model for Sea Salt Particles, F. Karagulian, A. S. Lea, C. W. Dilbeck and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 10 461 (2008) doi: 10.1039/b719598m
A New Approach to Studying Aqueous Reactions Using Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometry: Application to the Uptake and Oxidation of SO2 on OH-Processed Model Sea Salt Aerosol, H. Shaka, W. H. Robertson and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 9 1980 (2007)
Enhanced Photolysis in Aerosols: Evidence for Important Surface Effects, P. Nissenson, C. J. H. Knox, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, L. F. Phillips and D. Dabdub, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8 4700 (2006)
A New Approach to Determining Gas-Particle Reaction Probabilities and Application to the Heterogeneous Reaction of Deliquesced Sodium Chloride Particles with Gas-Phase Hydroxyl Radicals, A. Laskin, H. Wang, W. H. Robertson, J. P. Cowin, M. J. Ezell and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 110 10619 (2006)
Substrate Changes Associated with the Chemistry of Self-Assembled Monolayers on Silicon, T. M. McIntire, S. R. Smalley, J. T. Newberg, A. S. Lea, J. C. Hemminger and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Langmuir 22 5617 (2006)
A New Experimental and Theoretical Approach to the Heterogeneous Hydrolysis of NO2: The Key Role of Molecular Nitric Acid and Its Complexes, K. A. Ramazan, L. M. Wingen, Y. Miller, G. M. Chaban, R. B. Gerber, S. S. Xantheasand B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 110 6886 (2006)
Gas-Phase Molecular Halogen Formation from NaCl and NaBr Aerosols: When are Interface Reactions Important? J. L. Thomas, A. Jimenez-Aranda, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and D. Dabdub, J. Phys. Chem. A. 110 1859 (2006)
Photochemical Processes Induced by Vibrational Overtone Excitations: Dynamics Simulations for cis-HONO, trans-HONO, HNO3 and HNO3-H2O, Y. Miller, G. M. Chaban, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and R. B. Gerber, J. Phys. Chem. A. 110 5342 (2006)
Unusual Aggregates from the Oxidation of Alkene Self-Assembled Monolayers: A Previously Unrecognized Mechanism for SAM Ozonolysis? T. M. McIntire, A. S. Lea, D. J. Gaspar, N. Jaitly, Y. Dubowski, Q. Li and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 7 3605 (2005)
Adsorption of Atmospherically Relevant Gases at the Air/Water Interface: Free Energy Profiles of Aqueous Solvation of N2, O2, O3, OH, H2O, HO2 and H2O2, R. Vacha, P. Slaviček, M. Mucha, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts and P. Jungwirth, J. Phys. Chem. A. 108 11573 (2004)
The Interaction of Gas-Phase Ozone at 296 K with Unsaturated SAMs: A New Look at an Old System, Y. Dubowski, J. Vieceli, D. J. Tobias, A. Gomez, A. Lin, S. A. Nizkorodov, T. McIntire and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 108 10473 (2004)
Formation of Molecular Bromine from the Reaction of Ozone with Deliquesced NaBr Aerosol: Evidence for Interface Chemistry, S. W. Hunt, M. Roeselová, W. Wang, L. M. Wingen, E. M. Knipping, D. J. Tobias, D. Dabdub and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A. 108 11559 (2004)
TOF-SIMS Analysis of Sea Salt Particles: Imaging and Depth Profiling in the Discovery of an Unrecognized Mechanism for pH Buffering, D. J. Gaspar, A. Laskin, W. Wang, S. W. Hunt and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Appl. Surf. Sci. 231/232 520 (2004)
The Photochemical Production of HONO During the Heterogeneous Hydrolysis of NO2, K. Ramazan, D. Syomin and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys 6 3836 (2004)
Interactions of Gaseous Nitric Acid with Surfaces of Environmental Interest, Y. Dubowksi, A. L. Sumner, E. J. Menke, D. J. Gaspar, J. T. Newberg, R. C. Hoffman, R. M. Penner, J. C. Hemminger and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6 3879 (2004)
Sodium Nitrate Particles: Physical and Chemical Properties During Hydration and Dehydration and Implications for Aged Sea Salt Aerosols, R. C. Hoffman, A. Laskin and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Aerosol Sci. 35 869 (2004)
The Nature of Water on Surfaces of Laboratory Systems and Implications for Heterogeneous Chemistry in the Troposphere, A. L. Sumner, E. J. Menke, Y. Dubowski, J. T. Newberg, R. M. Penner, J. C. Hemminger, L. M. Wingen, T. Brauers and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6 604 (2004)
HONO Decomposition on Borosilicate Glass Surfaces: Implications for Environmental Chamber Studies and Field Experiments, D. Syomin and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 5 5236 (2003)
The Tropospheric Chemistry of Sea Salt: A Molecular View of the Chemistry of NaCl and NaBr, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Chem. Rev. 103 4801 (2003)
Knudsen Cell Studies of the Reaction of Gaseous HNO3 with NaCl Using Less than a Single Layer of Particles at 298 K: A Modified Mechanism, R. C. Hoffman, M. A. Kaleuati and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Phys. Chem. A 107 7818 (2003)
Reactions at Interfaces as a Source of Sulfate Formation in Sea Salt Particles, A. Laskin, D. J. Gaspar, W. Wang, S. W. Hunt, J. P. Cowin, S. D. Colson and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Science 301 340 (2003)
Fluorescence, Absorption and Excitation Spectra of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Tool for Quantitative Analysis, A. M. Rivera-Figueroa, K. A. Ramazan and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Chem. Ed. 81 242 (2003)
Knudsen Cell Studies of the Reactions of N2O5 and ClONO2 with NaCl: Development and Application of a Model for Estimating Available Surface Areas and Corrected Uptake Coefficients, R. C. Hoffman, M. E. Gebel, B. S. Fox and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 5 1780 (2003)
Laboratory Studies of Potential Mechanisms of Renoxification of Tropospheric Nitric Acid, A. M. Rivera-Figueroa, A. L. Sumner and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, Environ. Sci. Technol. 37 548 (2003)
The Heterogeneous Hydrolysis of NO2 in Laboratory Systems and in Outdoor and Indoor Atmospheres: An Integrated Mechanism, B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, L. M. Wingen, A. L. Sumner, D. Syomin and K. A. Ramazan, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 5 223 (2003)
Measurement of Organics Using Three Different FTIR Techniques: Absorption, Attenuated Total Reflectance and Diffuse Reflectance, M. E. Gebel, M. A. Kaleuati and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Chem. Ed. 80 672 (2003)
Measurement of Trace Metals in Tobacco and Cigarette Ash by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, W. Wang and B. J. Finlayson-Pitts, J. Chem. Ed. 80 83 (2003)
Professor of Chemistry
California State University, Fullerton 1974—1994
10/29/2014