Perchloric acid (HClO 4 ) drives atmospheric new particle formation enhanced by dimethylamine, ammonia and sulfuric acid: mechanisms and implications

Recent studies have revealed observations of atmospheric perchloric acid (HClO4, PA) in the Arctic. There are few studies of PA forming aerosol particles in coastal marine regions. We use quantum chemical calculations and Atmospheric Clusters Dynamic Code (ACDC) to compare the enhancement potential of dimethylamine (DMA), ammonia (NH3), and sulfuric acid (SA) for PA-based new particle formation (NPF). The results show that DMA and NH3 can strongly interact with PA through hydrogen bonding and proton transfer. Compared with the nucleation of SA, PA nucleates more easily with DMA. Even if the concentration of NH3 exceeds that of DMA by 10–100 orders of magnitude, the cluster formation rate of PA-DMA cluster formation is much higher than that of the PA-NH3 cluster system. Clusters with the same number of PA molecules as DMA molecules play a key role in the growth of PA-DMA clusters. The present results reveal the potential for new particle formation of PA in the Arctic boundary layer.