John C. Hemminger

John C. Hemminger is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine and an External Scientific Member of the Fritz Haber Institute. His research focuses on surface science methodologies applied to atmospheric chemistry, particularly reactions at air/water interfaces and on complex surfaces including nanostructures, catalysts, and atmospheric particles.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from Harvard University

Research Interests:

Prof. Hemminger combines structural experiments (scanning tunneling microscopy, electron microscopies) with spectroscopic techniques (vibrational spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, mass spectrometry) to investigate fundamental molecule-surface interactions. His work enables nanoscale control of surface structures for applications in atmospheric science, heterogeneous catalysis, and semiconductor design. Key contributions include demonstrating water's role in sea salt particle chemistry and bromide segregation effects in marine troposphere reactions.

Scientific Awards:

• National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1986)
• Distinguished Research Award of the UCI Alumni Association
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (1993)
• Fellow of the American Vacuum Society (1998)
• Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award (1999)
• Fellow of the AAAS (2002)
• Charles R. Bennett Award (2003)
• Arthur W. Adamson Award (2004)
• Medard W. Welch Award (2006)

Advising and Grants:

His research group develops innovative experimental approaches including laser-induced desorption/FT mass spectrometry for quantitative surface reaction analysis. While specific grant details aren't provided, his work demonstrates sustained funding for advanced instrumentation and collaborative atmospheric studies.

Laboratory and Team:

The Hemminger group operates specialized surface science facilities at UCI, utilizing STM to observe molecular-scale reaction dynamics. Their research involves international collaborations with the Fritz Haber Institute and focuses on atmospheric particle chemistry through custom-designed experiments that bridge fundamental surface physics with environmental applications.