Research Area

• Developing analytical methods for atmospheric applications
• Measurements of concentrations of individual chemical components in ambient and source aerosols
• Sources and sinks of important aerosol constituents
• Secondary organic aerosol formation chemistry
• Aqueous phase atmospheric chemistry.
• Kinetic modeling of multi-phase atmospheric reactions

Recent Publications

• Griffith, S. M., X. H. H. Huang, P. K. K. Louie, J. Z. Yu*, Characterizing the thermodynamic and chemical composition factors controlling PM2.5 nitrate: Insights gained from two years of online measurements in Hong Kong., Atmos. Environ., 2015, in press.
• Kuang, B. Y., Lin, P., Huang, X. H. H., Yu, J. Z*., Sources of humic-like substances in the Pearl River Delta, China: Positive matrix factorization analysis of PM2.5 major components and source markers, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2015, 15, 1995-2008.
• Xue, J., S. M. Griffith, Yu, X., Lau, A. K. H., Yu, J. Z.*, Effect of nitrate and sulfate relative abundance in PM2.5 on liquid water content explored through half-hourly observations of inorganic soluble aerosols at a polluted receptor site, Atmos. Environ., 2014, 99, 24-31.
• Huang, X. H. H., Q. J. Bian, P. K. K. Louie, J. Z. Yu,* Contributions of vehicular carbonaceous aerosols to PM2.5 in a roadside environment in Hong Kong, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 2014, 14, 9279-9293.
• Q.J. Bian, X. H. H. Huang, J. Z. Yu*, One-year Observations of Size Distribution Characteristics of Major Aerosol Constituents at a Coastal Receptor Site in Hong Kong: I. Inorganic Ions and Oxalate, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2014, 14, 9013-9027.
• J. Xue, Z. Yuan, A. K. H. Lau, J. Z. Yu*, Insights into factors affecting nitrate in PM2.5 in a polluted high NOx environment through hourly observations and size distribution measurements,  J. Geophys. Res. – Atmosphere, 2014, 119, 4888–4902, doi:10.1002/2013JD021108.
• Xue, J., Z. Yuan, J. Z. Yu*, A.K.H. Lau, An observation-based model for secondary inorganic aerosols, Aerosol & Air Quality Res. 2014, 862-878.
• Huang, X. H. H., Q. J. Bian, W. M. Ng, P. K. K. Louie, J. Z. Yu*, Characterization of PM2.5 major components and source investigation in suburban Hong Kong: a one year monitoring study, Aerosol & Air Quality Res., 2014, 14, 237-250.
• S. Y. Wang, D. W. Wu, X.-M. Wang, J. C. H. Fung, J. Z. Yu*, Relative contributions of SOA formation from toluene, xylenes, isoprene and monoterpenes in Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta, China: An emission-based box modeling study, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmosphere, 2013, 118, 507-519, doi:10.1029/2012JD017985.
• P. Lin, J. Z. Yu*, G. Engling, M. Kalberer, Organosulfates in humic-like substance fraction isolated from aerosols at seven locations in East Asia: A study by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 13118-13127.
• P. Lin, A. G. Rincon, M. Kalberer, J. Z. Yu*, Elemental composition of HULIS in the Pearl River Delta Region, China: Results inferred from positive and negative electrospray high resolution mass spectrometric data, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 7454-7462.
• Y.-C. Li, J. Z. Yu*, S. S. H. Ho, Z.B. Yuan, A. K. H. Lau, X.-F. Huang, Chemical characteristics of PM2.5 and organic aerosol source analysis during cold front episodes in Hong Kong, China. Atmos. Res. 2012, 118, 41-51.
• H. Yu, J. Z. Yu*, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Urban Atmosphere of Guangzhou, China: Size Distribution Characteristics and Size-resolved Gas-particle Partitioning, Atmos. Environ., 2012, 54, 194-200.
• C. Wu, W. M. Ng, J.X. Huang, D. Wu, J. Z. Yu*, Determination of Elemental and Organic Carbon in PM2.5 in the Pearl River Delta Region: Inter-Instrument (Sunset vs. DRI Model 2001 Thermal/Optical Carbon Analyzer) and Inter-Protocol Comparisons (IMPROVE vs. ACE-Asia Protocol), Aerosol Sci. Technol., 2012, 46, 610-621.
• P. Lin, J. Z. Yu*, Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species Mediated by Humic-like Substances in Atmospheric Aerosols, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 10362-10368.
• J. Z. Yu*, X. H. H. Huang, S. S. H. Ho, Q. J. Bian, Nonpolar organic compounds in fine particles: Quantification by thermal desorption-GC/MS and evidence for their significant oxidation in ambient aerosols in Hong Kong, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2011, 401, 3125-3139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5458-5.
• J. Xue, A. K. H. Lau, J. Z. Yu*, A study of acidity on PM2.5 in Hong Kong using online ionic chemical composition measurements. Atmos. Environ., 2011, 45, 7081-7088. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.09.040
• X. H. H. Huang, H. S. S. Ip, J. Z. Yu*, Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Ethylene in the Urban Atmosphere of Hong Kong: A Multi-phase Chemical Modeling Study. J. Geophys. Res.-Atmosphere, 2011, 116, D03206, doi:10.1029/2010JD014121.
• H. Yu, J. Z. Yu*, Size Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at two receptor Sites in the Pearl River Delta Region, China: Implications of a Dominant Droplet Mode, Aerosol Sci. Technol., 2011, 45, 101-112.