Bruce Kay

Bruce Kay is a Lab Fellow and Physicist in the Chemical Physics & Analysis division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He also serves as a Visiting Professor of Chemical Physics at the University of Liverpool, UK since 2006, maintaining an active international research collaboration.

Education:

• B.S. in Chemistry with Mathematics minor, University of Illinois, Chicago (1976) with Honors and Highest Distinction
• Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder (1982)

Research Interests:

Dr. Kay's research focuses on applying molecular-beam surface scattering techniques to investigate chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics on ice surfaces and oxide materials. His work examines complex physiochemical processes in aqueous solutions, super-cooled liquids, astrophysical environments, and at aqueous-mineral interfaces. Using thermal desorption and surface spectroscopic techniques, he probes hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions between water and various materials to understand interphase transport and phase separation.

His molecular-level studies directly support Department of Energy programs in environmental restoration, waste processing, and contaminant fate and transport. Dr. Kay's discovery of deposition angle dependent porosity in amorphous solid water films led to his development of nanoporous thin MgO films with high porosity (~90%) and surface area (~1000 m²/g), creating materials with enhanced chemically active binding sites for potential applications as sensors and heterogeneous catalysts.

Publication Trends:

Dr. Kay's recent publications (2015-2018) demonstrate continued leadership in surface science, with emphasis on molecular interactions with ice surfaces, graphene, and metal oxides like TiO₂. His work combines experimental surface science techniques with theoretical analysis to understand adsorption, desorption, and crystallization processes at the molecular level. Key themes include supercooled liquid behavior, nanoscale water films, catalytic processes on oxide surfaces, and the development of novel instrumentation for studying these phenomena under ultrahigh vacuum conditions.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the American Chemical Society (2010)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2005)
• Fellow of the American Vacuum Society (2000)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (2000)
• British Vacuum Council John Yarwood Medal (1991)
• ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry (1976)

Professional Service:

Dr. Kay has served on multiple editorial boards including the Journal of Chemical Physics (2009-2011) and Journal of Physical Chemistry (2005-2007). He held leadership positions in the American Chemical Society Physical Chemistry Division (2003-2008), co-chaired the Dynamics and Kinetics working group at the DOE-BES Workshop on Nanoscience and Catalysis (2002), and served on the International Advisory Board for Academica Sinica Institute for Atomic and Molecular Science, Taiwan (2004-2007).

Laboratory Work:

Dr. Kay's laboratory at PNNL develops and applies advanced molecular beam scattering instrumentation to study fundamental surface phenomena. His team's work on nanoporous MgO films represents a significant technological advancement with potential applications in catalysis and sensing. His research continues to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing surface interactions, with implications for environmental science, energy technologies, and materials design.