Articles | Volume 4, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-4-501-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-4-501-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Oct 2026
Research article |
| 22 Oct 2026
| 22 Oct 2026
Stability and composition of large sulfuric acid–methanesulfonic acid–base molecular clusters
Galib Hasan
Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Yosef Knattrup
Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Aerosol formation is an important process for our global climate. However, there are high uncertainties associated with the formation of new aerosol particles. We present quantum chemical calculations of large atmospheric molecular clusters composed of sulfuric acid (SA), ammonia (AM), and dimethylamine (DMA). We find that mixed SA–AM–DMA systems cluster more efficiently for freshly nucleated particles compared to pure SA–AM and SA–DMA systems.
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Short summary
New atmospheric particles affect air quality and climate, but the molecular processes behind their formation remain poorly understood. We used computer simulations to investigate how two common atmospheric acids interact with ammonia and amines during the earliest stages of particle formation. We found that sulfuric acid plays the dominant role in forming the smallest particles, while methanesulfonic acid contributes mainly during later growth, helping to clarify their roles in the atmosphere.
New atmospheric particles affect air quality and climate, but the molecular processes behind...
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