Interfacial chemistry of alkali halides

Through the research efforts in this dissertation, I am trying to understand fundamental aspects of potassium iodide chemistry in relation to atmospherically relevant systems both at the solid-gas and liquid-gas interfaces using surface specific probes that operate under ambient pressure conditions.;This thesis is divided in the following manner. First the reactivity of dry KI (100) and polycrystalline KI with ozone is studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The reaction of KI (100) with ozone is then monitored via atomic force microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction as complimentary surface specific probes. A unique high vacuum OH doser is then presented, which allows fundamental high vacuum analysis of the surface of alkali halide single crystals following reaction with OH radicals. Then focus of the thesis then shifts towards fundamental investigations of the liquid-vapor interface. First, the ion profiles from aqueous solutions of potassium fluoride are measured via ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from a liquid micro jet source. Increased surface propensity of bromide is demonstrated in a mixed bromide doped sodium chloride solution. Finally, the effect of an organic coating on the interfacial ion profiles of aqueous potassium iodide is measured.