Quantifying the Viscosity of Individual Submicrometer Semisolid Particles Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Chamika K. Madawala; Hansol D. Lee; Chathuri P. Kaluarachchi; Alexei V. Tivanski

doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01835

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Quantifying the Viscosity of Individual Submicrometer Semisolid Particles Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Quantifying the Viscosity of Individual Submicrometer Semisolid Particles Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Chamika K. Madawala, Hansol D. Lee, Chathuri P. Kaluarachchi and Alexei V. Tivanski

Analytical chemistry (Washington), Vol.95(39), pp.14566-14572

09/23/2023

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01835

PMCID: PMC10551855

PMID: 37740726

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

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Abstract

Atmospheric aerosols’ viscosities can vary significantly depending on their composition, mixing states, relative humidity (RH) and temperature. The diffusion time scale of atmospheric gases into an aerosol is largely governed by its viscosity, which in turn influences heterogeneous chemistry and climate-relevant aerosol effects. Quantifying the viscosity of aerosols in the semisolid phase state is particularly important as they are prevalent in the atmosphere and have a wide range of viscosities. Currently, direct viscosity measurements of submicrometer individual atmospheric aerosols are limited, largely due to the inherent size limitations of existing experimental techniques. Herein, we present a method that utilizes atomic force microscopy (AFM) to directly quantify the viscosity of substrate-deposited individual submicrometer semisolid aerosol particles as a function of RH. The method is based on AFM force spectroscopy measurements coupled with the Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic model. Using glucose, sucrose, and raffinose as model systems, we demonstrate the accuracy of the AFM method within the viscosity range of ∼104–107 Pa s. The method is applicable to individual particles with sizes ranging from tens of nanometers to several micrometers. Furthermore, the method does not require prior knowledge on the composition of studied particles. We anticipate future measurements utilizing the AFM method on atmospheric aerosols at various RH to aid in our understanding of the range of aerosols’ viscosities, the extent of particle-to-particle viscosity variability, and how these contribute to the particle diversity observable in the atmosphere.

Carbohydrates

UIOWA OA Agreement

Aerosols

Phases of matter

Viscosity

Young’s modulus

Details

Title: Subtitle: Quantifying the Viscosity of Individual Submicrometer Semisolid Particles Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Creators: Chamika K. Madawala - University of Iowa
Hansol D. Lee - University of Iowa
Chathuri P. Kaluarachchi - University of Iowa
Alexei V. Tivanski - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Analytical chemistry (Washington), Vol.95(39), pp.14566-14572
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01835
PMID: 37740726
PMCID: PMC10551855
NLM abbreviation: Anal Chem
ISSN: 0003-2700
eISSN: 1520-6882
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000165, name: Division of Chemistry, award: 1801971
Language: English
Date published: 09/23/2023
Academic Unit: Chemistry
Record Identifier: 9984472652202771

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