Our investigations involve the fundamental science problems of Mars, Moon, Venus, Europa, and Enceladus. We use molecular and atomic spectroscopy, including Raman, IR, and Plasma spectroscopy, in our study. The design and building of planetary simulation chambers is another emphasis of this team.
Following are the five areas of our studies, and the relevant publications.
1. Heterogeneous Electrochemistry induced by Martian dust events, Venus lightning, and radiolysis on Europa and Enceladus
- Biomarker destruction caused by radiolysis on Europa (Wang et al., 2020, 2023)
- CO2, N2, and SO2 breakdown products, pathways, and rates by electric activities under Venus atmospheric conditions (Qu et al., 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Amorphization of S, Cl-salts, and oxidation of Fe, S-species by heterogeneous electrochemistry on Mars (Wang et al., 2020)
- Cl-release from common chlorides by heterogeneous electrochemistry on Mars (Wang et al., 2020)
- Formation of chlorates and perchlorates by heterogeneous electrochemistry (Wang et al., 2017b, 2018; _Wu_2018)
- Experimental investigation of simulate ESD in simulation chambers (Wu et al., 2016; Yan et al., 2017; Yan et al., 2018; Yan et al. 2020, 2023)
2. Hydrous chloride & oxychlorine salts (HyCOS): Thermodynamics and kinetics
- Hydrous chloride & oxychlorine salts (HyCOS) — phase transformation and rates and relevance to RSL (Wang et al., 2019)
- Spectral features of hydrous magnesium chlorides (Shi et al., 2019)
- Spectral features of hydrous chlorides (Lu and Wang 2012; Wang et al., 2013, 2017a)
- Spectral features of Perchlorates (Wu et al., 2016)
3. Hydrous sulfates: Thermodynamics and kinetics
- Abnormal stability of gamma-CaSO4 from the hyperarid region on Earth and Mars (Shi et al., 2022)
- Hydrous Mg-sulfates (Wang et al. 2006, 2009, 2011)
- Hydrous ferric-sulfates (Ling and Wang, 2010; Kong et al., 2011a, 2011b, Wang and Ling, 2011; Wang et al, 2012; Liu & Wang 2015)
- Hydrous ferrous-sulfates and Al-sulfates (Connor and Wang, 2014, Wang and Zhou, 2014)
- The stability of hydrous sulfate in Mars subsurface (Chou, Seal II, & Wang, 2013; Wang et al., 2013; Wang & Zhou, 2014)
4. Igneous mineralogy: Mineral chemistry by Raman spectroscopy
- Cation distribution in amphiboles (Wang et al., 1988a, 1988b, 1988c)
- Mg/(Mg+Fe+Ca) ratio in pyroxene (Wang et al., 2001)
- Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio in olivine (Kuebler et al., 2006)
- Or-Ab-An & solid solution feldspar (Freeman et al., 2008)
- Fe-Ti-Cr-oxides (Wang et al., 2004)
5. Phyllosilicates: Raman Spectra and structures
- Raman spectral features of phyllosilicates (Wang et al., 2015)
- Poor crystalline phyllosilicates (Fu et al., 2017a; Fu and Wang, 2017b)