Spectroscopy and atmospheric chemistry

The spectroscopy and atmospheric chemistry group is a multidisciplinary research team which uses a variety of tools to explore and manipulate chemical behaviour at the atomic, molecular and nanoscale, and understand how this translates into properties on a large scale, such as in the Earth’s atmosphere. We employ laser spectroscopy and quantum chemical computations to learn about how molecules interact with each other, which underpins important areas such as energy, environment and health. We also explore the growth of nanomaterials, atom-by-atom and layer-by-layer, providing a unique approach to nanoscience and nanotechnology that has the potential to impact on next-generation technologies. We make measurements of the concentrations of molecules in the ambient atmosphere, perform laboratory experiments and run computer models to understand the sources and reactivity of atmospheric species, and the impacts of atmospheric chemistry on air quality and air pollution.