Department of Chemistry & Environmental Science

Alexei Khalizov Assistant Professor Office: 356 Tiernan Hall Lab: 301 Tiernan Hall Email: khalizov@njit.edu Office phone: 973-596-3583

Research in Khalizov’s lab is focused on two major scientific problems: (1) transformations and impacts of atmospheric nanoparticles and (2) cycling of atmospheric mercury. Investigating these problems is not only attractive from a fundamental scientific standpoint but also crucial for developing the control measures to reduce environmental pollution.

Atmospheric nanoparticles, such as combustion soot and organic aerosols, have profound impacts on air quality, human health, and climate. Presently, the chemical and physical mechanisms responsible for the transformation of aerosol nanoparticles remain inadequately understood. Impacts of aerosols on the environment and human health are poorly quantified, as well.

Mercury is a persistent, bioaccumulative pollutant. Most of atmospheric mercury is emitted in elemental form (Hg⁰) by coal-fired power plants. Oxidation of Hg⁰ followed by atmospheric deposition is the primary cause of mercury contamination of the aquatic environment. Current knowledge of the chemical processes that transform mercury between elemental and oxidized states is highly uncertain.

Two graduate RA positions in Atmospheric Chemistry

A graphical summary of current/future research projects

Key components of the research program in Khalizov’s lab are:

- experimental studies of gas-phase and heterogeneous chemical reactions

- measurements of atmospheric trace gases and nanoparticles

- development of mass spectrometry instrumentation for analysis of trace gases and nanoparticles

- measurements of climate-related aerosol properties, such as light absorption, light scattering, and particle hygroscopicity

- nanoparticle toxicity studies

Education

· Ph.D., 1997, Physical Chemistry, Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

· B.S., 1994, Chemistry (honors), Bashkir State University (Russia)

Professional Experience

· Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2005-2013

· Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Canada, 2002–2005

· Research Associate, Chemistry Department, McGill University, Canada, 2002

· NATO-NSERC Postdoctoral fellow, Chemistry Department, McGill University, Canada, 1999-2002

· Research scientist, Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1997-1999

Honors and Awards

· Research Productivity Award, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M, 2012

· Dean's Distinguished Achievement Award, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M, 2012

· NATO-NSERC Science Fellowship, McGill University, Canada, 2000-2002

· International Soros Science Educational Program Scholarship, Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1996 and 1997

· Scholarship of the Government of Republic Bashkortostan, Ufa Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1996

Selected Publications

· R. Zhang, A. F. Khalizov, L. Wang, M. Hu, and W. Xu. ‘Nucleation and growth of nanoparticles in the atmosphere’ (2012), Chemical Reviews, 112(3), 1957-2011, 2011, 10.1021/cr2001756.

· T. Kuhn, M. E. Earle, A. F. Khalizov, and J. J. Sloan. ‘Size dependence of volume and surface nucleation rates for homogeneous freezing of supercooled water droplets’ (2011), Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11, 2853-2861

· L. Wang, A. F. Khalizov, J. Zheng, W. Xu, Y. Ma, V. Lal, and R. Zhang. ‘Atmospheric nanoparticles formed from heterogeneous reactions of organics’ (2010), Nature – Geoscience, 3(4), 238-242, doi:10.1038/ngeo778

· L. Wang, V. Lal, A.F. Khalizov, and R. Zhang. ‘Heterogeneous Chemistry of Alkylamines with Sulfuric Acid: Implications for Atmospheric Formation of Alkylaminium Sulfates’ (2010), Environmental Science and Technology, 44(7), 2461-2465, 10.1021/es9036868

· J. Zheng, A. F. Khalizov, L. Wang, and R. Zhang. ‘Atmospheric Pressure-Ion Drift Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Detection of Trace Gas Species’ (2010), Analytical Chemistry, 10.1021/ac101253n

· R. Zhang, L. Wang, A. F. Khalizov, J. Zhao, J. Zheng, R. McGraw, L. Molina, and M. Molina. ‘Formation of Nano-Sized Particles of Blue Haze Enhanced by Anthropogenic Pollution’ (2009), Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 106(42), 17650-17654, 10.1073/pnas.0910125106

· J. Zhao, A. F. Khalizov, R. Zhang and R. McGraw. ‘Hydrogen Bonding Interaction in Molecular Complexes and Clusters of Aerosol Nucleation Precursors’, (2009) Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 113(4), 680-689

· R. Zhang, A.F. Khalizov, J. Pagels, D. Zhang, H. Xue, and P.H. McMurry. ‘Variability in morphology, hygroscopicity, and optical properties of soot aerosols during atmospheric processing’, (2008) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 105(30), 10291-10296

· A. Y. Zasetsky, A. F. Khalizov, M. E. Earle, J. J. Sloan. ‘Frequency Dependent Complex Refractive Indices of Supercooled Liquid Water and Ice Determined from Aerosol Extinction Spectra’, (2005) Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 109(14), 2760

· P. A. Ariya, A. F. Khalizov, and A. Gidas, ‘Reaction of Gaseous Mercury with Atomic and Molecular Halogens: Kinetics, Product Studies, and Atmospheric Implications’, (2002) Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 106(32), 7310