Dr Joseph Beames
Lecturer in Physical Chemistry
The research in this group seeks to probe important atmospheric, physical and analytical chemistry problems using UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopic techniques. The key goals are to sensitively and quantitatively detect trace gases and reactive intermediates, and to begin to probe the nucleation and chemical composition of particulate matter (aerosols).
Accurate monitoring of trace gases has a variety of important real-world applications ranging from biomedical sensing to explosives detection and the determination of the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. The Beames group aims to develop spectrometers for use in each of each of these areas; providing highly sensitive real time detection of many different chemical species. In addition, these spectrometers will be combined with state of the art optical trapping techniques in an attempt to provide new insights into particulate matter formation and composition.
Selected publications:
Science, 2014, 345(6204), 1596: "Infrared-driven unimolecular reaction of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products"
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134(49), 20045: "Ultraviolet Spectrum and Photochemistry of the Simplest Criegee Intermediate CH2OO"
J. Chem. Phys., 2011, 134, 241102: "A new spectroscopic window on hydroxyl radicals using UV+VUV resonant ionization"J. Atm. Chem. 2007, 58, 69: "Measurement of IO concentrations in the marine boundary layer using a cavity ring-down spectrometer"
B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Bristol (2002-2005); M.Sc. by Research in Chemistry, University of Bristol (2005-2006, Prof. A.J. Orr-Ewing); Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Bristol (2006-2010, Dr A.J. Hudson); Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (2010-2013, Prof. M.I. Lester); Dreyfus Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania (2013-2015, Prof. M.I. Lester). Appointed Cardiff University Research Fellow 2015.
2020
- Stonelake, T. M.et al. 2020. Spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of color tuning in deep-red luminescent iridium(III) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, pp. -. (10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02991)
2019
- Phillips, K. A.et al. 2019. Dual visible/NIR emission from organometallic iridium(III) complexes. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 893, pp. 11-20. (10.1016/j.jorganchem.2019.04.019)
- Watson, N. A. I.et al. 2019. An extended computational study of Criegee intermediate - alcohol reactions. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 123(1), pp. 218-229. (10.1021/acs.jpca.8b09349)
2018
- Phillips, K. A.et al. 2018. Ligand tuneable, red-emitting iridium(III) complexes for efficient triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion performance. Chemistry - A European Journal 24(34), pp. 8577-8588. (10.1002/chem.201801007)
- Sciutto, A.et al. 2018. Customizing photoredox properties of PXX-based dyes through energy level rigid shifts of frontier molecular orbitals. Chemistry - a European Journal 24(17), pp. 4382-4389. (10.1002/chem.201705620)
2017
- McGillen, M. R.et al. 2017. Criegee intermediate-alcohol reactions, a potential source of functionalized hydroperoxides in the atmosphere. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 1(10), pp. 664-672. (10.1021/acsearthspacechem.7b00108)
- Chhantyal-Pun, R.et al. 2017. Temperature-dependence of the rates of reaction of trifluoroacetic acid with criegee intermediates. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56(31), pp. 9044-9047. (10.1002/anie.201703700)
- Groves, L. M.et al. 2017. From ligand to phosphor: rapid, machine-assisted syntheses of substituted iridium(III)-pyrazolate complexes with tuneable luminescence. Chemistry - A European Journal 23(39), pp. 9407-9418. (10.1002/chem.201701551)
2015
- Li, H.et al. 2015. UV photodissociation dynamics of the CH3CHOO Criegee intermediate: action spectroscopy and velocity map imaging of O-atom products. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 119(30), pp. 8328-8337. (10.1021/acs.jpca.5b05352)
- Li, H., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2015. Velocity map imaging of O-atom products from UV photodissociation of the CH2OO Criegee intermediate. Journal of Chemical Physics 142(21), article number: 214312. (10.1063/1.4921990)
2014
- Liu, F., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2014. Direct production of OH radicals upon CH overtone activation of (CH3)(2)COO Criegee intermediates. Journal of Chemical Physics 141(23), article number: 234312. (10.1063/1.4903961)
- Samanta, K.et al. 2014. Quantum dynamical investigation of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO and its O-O photodissociation channels. Journal of Chemical Physics 141(13), article number: 134303. (10.1063/1.4894746)
- Liu, F.et al. 2014. Infrared-driven unimolecular reaction of CH3CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products. Science 345(6204), pp. 1596-1598. (10.1126/science.1257158)
- Lu, L., Beames, J. and Lester, M. I. 2014. Early time detection of OH radical products from energized Criegee intermediates CH2OO and CH3CHOO. Chemical Physics Letters 598, pp. 23-27. (10.1016/j.cplett.2014.02.049)
- Beames, J., Liu, F. and Lester, M. I. 2014. 1+1 ' resonant multiphoton ionisation of OH radicals via the A(2)sigma(+) state: insights from direct comparison with A-X laser-induced fluorescence detection. Molecular Physics 112(7), pp. 897-903. (10.1080/00268976.2013.822592)
- Liu, F.et al. 2014. UV spectroscopic characterization of dimethyl- and ethyl-substituted carbonyl oxides. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 118(12), pp. 2298-2306. (10.1021/jp412726z)
2013
- Lehman, J. H.et al. 2013. Communication: Ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO. Journal of Chemical Physics 139(14), article number: 141103. (10.1063/1.4824655)
- Beames, J.et al. 2013. UV spectroscopic characterization of an alkyl substituted Criegee intermediate CH3CHOO. Journal of Chemical Physics 138(24), article number: 244307. (10.1063/1.4810865)
2012
- Beames, J. M.et al. 2012. Ultraviolet spectrum and photochemistry of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO. Journal of the American Chemical Society 134(49), pp. 20045-20048. (10.1021/ja310603j)
- O'Donnell, B. A., Beames, J. and Lester, M. I. 2012. Insights on the CN B-2 Sigma(+)+Ar potential from ultraviolet fluorescence excitation and infrared depletion studies of the CN-Ar complex. The Journal of Chemical Physics 136(23), article number: 234303. (10.1063/1.4723694)
- O'Donnell, B. A., Beames, J. M. and Lester, M. I. 2012. Experimental characterization of the CN X-2 Sigma(+)+Ar and H-2 potentials via infrared-ultraviolet double resonance spectroscopy. Journal of Chemical Physics 136(23), article number: 234304. (10.1063/1.4723696)
2011
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Communication: A new spectroscopic window on hydroxyl radicals using UV plus VUV resonant ionization. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(24), article number: 241102. (10.1063/1.3608061)
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Experimental characterization of the weakly anisotropic CN X-2 Sigma(+) + Ne potential from IR-UV double resonance studies of the CN-Ne complex. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(18), article number: 184308. (10.1063/1.3586810)
- Beames, J.et al. 2011. Analysis of the HOOO torsional potential. Journal of Chemical Physics 134(4), article number: 44304. (10.1063/1.3518415)
2010
- Beames, J., Vaden, T. D. and Hudson, A. J. 2010. The spectroscopy of jet-cooled porphyrins: an insight into the vibronic structure of the Q band. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines 14(4), pp. 314-323. (10.1142/S1088424610002094)
- Beames, J.et al. 2010. Double-resonance spectroscopy of the jet-cooled free base and Cu(II) complex of protoporphyrin IX. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics -Cambridge- Royal Society of Chemistry 12(42), pp. 14076-14081. (10.1039/c0cp00874e)
- McFiggans, G.et al. 2010. Iodine-mediated coastal particle formation: an overview of the Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Layer (RHaMBLe) Roscoff coastal study. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 10(6), pp. 2975-2999. (10.5194/acp-10-2975-2010)
- Beames, J. and Hudson, A. J. 2010. Jet-cooled spectroscopy of paracetamol. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics -Cambridge- Royal Society of Chemistry 12(16), pp. 4157-4164. (10.1039/B923202H)
2009
- Beames, J., Nix, M. G. D. and Hudson, A. J. 2009. Comparison of the resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectra of pyrrole and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole: Building toward an understanding of the electronic structure and photochemistry of porphyrins. Journal of Chemical Physics 131(17), article number: 174305. (10.1063/1.3257681)
2007
- Wada, R., Beames, J. and Orr-Ewing, A. J. 2007. Measurement of IO radical concentrations in the marine boundary layer using a cavity ring-down spectrometer. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 58(1), pp. 69-87. (10.1007/s10874-007-9080-z)
2005
- Mazurenka, M.et al. 2005. Fast fourier transform analysis in cavity ring-down spectroscopy: application to an optical detector for atmospheric NO2. Applied Physics B Lasers and Optics 81(1), pp. 135-141. (10.1007/s00340-005-1834-1)
The Beames group is focused on tackling important atmospheric and physical chemistry problems using both UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopic techniques.
The last two hundred years have seen new anthropogenic emissions dramatically change the chemical composition and chemistry of the troposphere, creating an incredibly diverse set of atmospheric conditions based on location and level of human population. Much of what we know about the changing climate comes from carefully constructed atmospheric models. These models often comprise thousands of competing chemical reactions which can be used to predict global chemical concentrations. However, such models rely on accurate laboratory studies of the underlying reaction rates and outcomes. As such we must develop tools suitable for undertaking such experiments. The Beames group aims to develop spectrometers that will provide sensitive trace gas measurements for use in these types of laboratory experiments. In addition the group will focus on creating gas phase spectrometers capable of high chemical selectivity, such that the concentration of many different compounds can be monitored in real time. The selectivity provided by these spectrometers will also be employed in the detection of novel explosives (many of which are very volatile and susceptible to gas phase detection) and also in medical sensing.
The group will also investigate the chemical properties and composition of small particulate matter. Such particulate has a dramatic impact on human health, introducing chemicals into the respiratory tract and lungs. This can be detrimental in polluted environments, where the particulate can induce asthma attacks or deposit harmful chemicals into the body. In contrast, carefully constructed and controlled aerosolized particulate can be used as a drug delivery source, in many cases being used to alleviate the very problems (such as asthma) that particulates may have induced. While much is already known about these aerosols, there is still much research to be undertaken in trying to monitor the chemical composition of different aerosolized particulate without destroying or altering the particulate in the process. The Beames group also seeks to use spectrometric tools, in conjunction with novel techniques such as optical trapping, to investigate the formation of aerosol particulate matter on the sub-micron scale where there is little existing scientific data.