D. James Donaldson

Academic Title: Professor & Associate Chair Graduate Studies

Phone: 416-978-3603 / 416-287-7213

Office: LM 316

Email:

Research Homepage: http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/~jdonalds/

Research in my laboratory brings techniques of physical chemistry to understand fundamental aspects of atmospheric and environmental chemistry. We use linear and non-linear laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, highly sensitive piezoelectric microbalcances, and quantum chemical methods, combined with standard spectroscopic and analytical methods (available in ANALEST) to probe and understand chemical interactions of atmospheric importance. These include: interactions of water vapour with compounds chosen to model cloud condensation nucleii; the kinetics and mechanisms of reactions taking place at aerosol surfaces and in "urban surface films"; and novel chemistry induced by vibrational excitation. As well, I have some interest in the possible role of atmospheric aerosol chemistry in the origin of life. The Research Group pages give details on all the ongoing projects.

My research group is made up of postdoctoral scientists, graduate students and undergraduates. The Research Group pages outline any positions currently availble. We enjoy strong interactions with other members of the Environmental Chemistry group, especially with Professors Abbatt and Wania, as well as other environmental scientists at U of T and Environment Canada.

Atmospheric surface chemistry

T.F. Kahan and D. J. Donaldson, “Photolysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Water and Ice Surfaces”, J. Phys. Chem . A 111 , xxxx (2007)

D. Clifford, T. Bartels-Rausch and D.J. Donaldson “Suppression of aqueous surface hydrolysis by monolayers of short chain organic amphiphiles”, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 9 , xxxx (2007)

Nana-Owusua A. Kwamena, John P. Clarke, Tara F. Kahan, Miriam L. Diamond and D. J. Donaldson, “Assessing the importance of heterogeneous reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the urban atmosphere using the multimedia urban model” Atmos. Environ . 41 , 37-50 (2007)

T.F. Kahan, N.-O.A. Kwamena, D.J. Donaldson, “Heterogeneous ozonation kinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on organic films” Atmos. Environ . 40 , 3448-3459 (2006)

D.J. Donaldson and V. Vaida, “ The influence of organic films at the air-aqueous boundary on atmospheric processes” Chem. Rev. 106 , 1445-1461 (2006)

Atmospheric vibrational photochemistry

M. Staikova, M. Oh and  D. J. Donaldson, “Overtone-induced decarboxylation: A potential sink for atmospheric diacids” . J. Phys. Chem. A 109 597-602 (2005).

D.J. Donaldson, A.F. Tuck and V. Vaida “ Atmospheric photochemistry via vibrational overtone absorption” Chem. Rev. 103 , 4717 - 4729 (2003)

D.J. Donaldson and J.S. Francisco, “Bimolecular Reaction of Molecular Oxygen with Overtone Excited HOOH: Implications for Recycling HO 2 in the Atmosphere”, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys . 5 , 3183 - 3187 (2003).

Theoretical approaches to atmospheric chemistry

M. Staikova,  P. Messih, Y. D. Lei , F. Wania, D. J. Donaldson, “Prediction of subcooled vapour pressures of non-polar organic compounds using a one-parameter QSPR”   J. Chem. Eng. Data 50 438-443 (2005).

M. Staikova, F. Wania, D. J. Donaldson, “Molecular polarizability as a single- parameter predictor of vapor pressures and octanol-air partitioning coefficients of non-polar compounds: a-priori approach and results” Atmos. Environ . 38 213-225 (2004) 

D.J. Donaldson and J.S. Francisco, “Bimolecular Reaction of Molecular Oxygen with Overtone Excited HOOH: Implications for Recycling HO 2 in the Atmosphere”, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys . 5 , 3183 - 3187 (2003).