On July 8, Associate Professor Wang Sainan (School of Atmospheric Science) collaborating with Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (CAS), University of York (UK), South China University of Technology and others revealed a novel IEPOX formation mechanism under urban high- NOₓ conditions using integrated theoretical calculations and field simulations. The study demonstrates that isoprene-derived organic nitrates (IHN) react with OH radicals to form IEPOX, efficiently producing it via NO-driven mechanisms in moderate-to-high NO urban areas. Revised simulations of Beijing observations show this pathway contributes >50% of IEPOX production from morning to afternoon. These findings advance understanding of NOₓ-dependent SOA formation in polluted regions, showing anthropogenic emissions significantly enhance biogenic SOA.

Published in Nature’s npj Climate and Atmospheric Science as “Largely underestimated production of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) through high-NO oxidation pathways in urban areas”, the paper lists CUIT as primary affiliation with Wang Sainan as first author and Wang Xinming (Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS) as corresponding author. This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other programs.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-025-01151-4