Single Particle Mass Spectrometry of Atmospheric Aerosols

Single particle mass spectrometry offers real-time, size-resolved chemical characterisation of individual aerosol particles, revealing their composition, mixing state and evolution in the atmosphere. Instruments such as aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometers (ATOFMS), laser desorption/ionisation systems and soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometers combine aerodynamic focusing, in-flight sizing and mass-to-charge analysis to identify organic and inorganic constituents on a particle-by-particle basis. This approach illuminates internal and external mixing, the distribution of black carbon, sulphates, nitrates, secondary organic material and trace metals within single particles. By resolving heterogeneity in ambient populations, single particle mass spectrometry advances source apportionment, elucidates ageing processes, improves understanding of hygroscopic growth and cloud activation, and refines estimates of radiative forcing and human health impacts. Recent technological developments in aerodynamic lens design, ionisation efficiency and data-processing algorithms have enhanced detection limits, extended size ranges into the supermicron regime and enabled quantitative mass concentration retrievals. Applications span urban pollution studies, biomass burning plume characterisation, mineral dust quantification and marine aerosol analysis, underscoring the global importance of this technique for air quality assessment, climate modelling and policy-relevant emission control evaluation.

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Single Particle Mass Spectrometry of Atmospheric Aerosols publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in single particle mass spectrometry of atmospheric aerosols across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Aerodynamic diameter: Diameter of a sphere with unit density that settles at the same velocity as the particle in question.

Mixing state: Distribution of chemical constituents among individual particles, distinguishing internal from external mixtures.

Ionisation efficiency: Fraction of analyte molecules converted to ions during desorption/ionisation in the mass spectrometer.

Aerodynamic lens: A series of orifices and expansions that focuses aerosol particles into a narrow beam for analysis.

Hygroscopicity: Tendency of a particle to take up water vapour, influencing cloud condensation nuclei activity.

Time-of-flight analyser: Mass spectrometry detector that separates ions by their flight time, yielding mass-to-charge ratios.

References

1. Mixing state and effective density of aerosol particles during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2023).
2. A new method to quantify mineral dust and other aerosol species from aircraft platforms using single-particle mass spectrometry. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (2019).
3. Characterization of an aerodynamic lens for transmitting particles greater than 1 micrometer in diameter into the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (2013).
4. Ubiquitous influence of wildfire emissions and secondary organic aerosol on summertime atmospheric aerosol in the forested Great Lakes region. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2018).