Particle Chemistry Department

Prof. Dr. Stephan Borrmann, Director

The Particle Chemistry Department is a joint facility of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Institute for Atmospheric Physics of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. We investigate the physical properties and the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosol and cloud particles. For this purpose we carry out, for example, laboratory experiments in a vertical wind tunnel and measure on soil and hill stations and mobile carriers particular aircrafts. Furthermore, we develop methods to determine aerosols by mass spectrometry. Using isotopic measurements, we analyze extraterrestrial particles such as presolar dust grains from meteorites and comets.