Speaker：Dr. Xiangrui Kong（University of Gothenburg）
Time：11:00-12:00, 13 September (Friday)
Venue：Lecture Hall 221, Building No. 16, Tianjin University
Abstract：
Aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, play a critical role in driving various chemical processes. Recent studies have shown that, under certain conditions, reactive species on aerosol surfaces can undergo phase changes that promote catalytic reactions. This seminar will explore these heterogeneous catalytic processes, with a focus on a newly identified mechanism known as "water-on" catalysis. Additionally, the seminar will address how the surface composition of mixed aerosol particles often differs significantly from their bulk properties, a phenomenon that challenges current assumptions about aerosol surface reactivity. Investigating these differences is crucial, as it is not always accurate to infer surface composition and catalytic behavior based solely on bulk characteristics. The seminar will tentatively discuss the potential fundamental drivers and mechanisms behind these processes.
About the speaker：
Xiangrui Kong is a principal researcher and lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, specializing in atmospheric chemistry and aerosol surface science. He earned his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and completed postdoctoral work at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) from 2015 to 2017. In addition, he served as a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 2017 to 2018. Dr. Kong's research focuses on aerosol surface chemistry, ice nucleation, and the interactions between atmospheric particles and gases. His extensive contributions to understanding catalytic processes on aerosol surfaces and their impact on climate and environmental chemistry have been recognized in over 60 published papers, including in top-tier journals like Science. He also leads several international collaborative research projects that advance both national and global efforts in atmospheric science.
