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Significance Photochemical oxidation is an important aging pathway for soot. The organic carbon (OC) component in soot is believed to be photoactive, while the elemental carbon (EC) part with strong light absorption is photochemically inert. By considering the distinct light absorption properties of OC and EC, we have provided direct experimental evidence that EC also plays an important role in the photochemical aging of soot by absorbing the solar light. Our work reveals that the photochemical aging of soot occurs in an extended active spectrum (up to red light) by the light absorption of EC and has major environmental effects, such as enhancing the hydrophilicity of soot, that would enhance its ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei.
Li et al. (Mon,) studied this question.