The nano-scanning electrical mobility spectrometer (nSEMS) and its application to size distribution measurements of 1.5–25 nm particles

Abstract

Abstract. Particle size measurement in the low nanometer regime is of great importance to the study of cloud condensation nuclei formation and to better understand aerosol-cloud interaction. Here we present the design, modeling, and experimental characterization of the nano-scanning electrical mobility spectrometer (nSEMS), a recently developed instrument that probes particle physical properties in the 1.5–25 nm range. The nSEMS consists of a charge conditioner, a novel differential mobility analyzer, and a two-stage condensation particle counter (CPC). The charge conditioner employs a soft x-ray bipolar ion source in a compact housing designed to optimize both nanoparticle charging and transmission efficiency. The mobility analyzer, a radial opposed migration ion and aerosol classifier (ROMIAC), can classify nanometer-sized particles with minimal degradation of its resolution or diffusional losses. The ROMIAC operates on a dual high-voltage supply with fast polarity-switching capability to minimize sensitivity to variations in the chemical nature of the ions used to charge the aerosol. Particles transmitted through the charge conditioner and mobility analyzer are measured using a two-stage CPC. They are first activated in a fast-mixing diethylene glycol (DEG) stage before being counted by a second detection stage, an ADI MAGICTM water-based CPC. The transfer function of the integrated instrument is derived from both finite-element modeling and experimental characterization. The nSEMS performance has been evaluated during measurement of transient nucleation and growth events in the CLOUD atmospheric chamber at CERN. We show that the nSEMS can provide high time and size resolution measurement of nanoparticles, and can capture the critical aerosol dynamics of newly formed atmospheric particles.