Interfacial geochemistry of iron applied to atmospheric and oceanic environments

Abstract

Realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on water and climate through research in chemistry demands innovative and integrated approaches to studying environmental systems from the macro to the molecular scales. Due to the ubiquity of iron (Fe)-containing materials in the natural and built environments, they find their way to air, water, and soil with natural weathering and human activities. These materials are redox and (photo)chemically active with relatively high affinity to complexing inorganic and organic species of relevance to geochemical and atmospheric systems that include outdoor and indoor air. The current state of knowledge of the environmental chemistry of Fe shows that Fe-containing materials influence pollutant transport and transformation, micronutrient availability, and the climate. However, the extent of these influences is affected by the solvation effects of bulk and interfacial water. In this perspectives article, we highlight advances in experimental and theoretical approaches focused on studying the interfacial reactivity of Fe-containing materials in geochemical and atmospheric environments. Specifically, the surface chemistry of Fe-(oxyhydr)oxides and its role in changing the chemical composition of the natural and built environments is presented to connect fundamental concepts to implications. This paper also provides an outlook for future studies in this interdisciplinary area.