Dr. Arsh Hazrah
Arsh Hazrah earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from the University of Alberta in 2018. He then pursued his PhD in physical chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Wolfgang Jäger at the University of Alberta, completing it in 2023. His doctoral research focused on the early stages of atmospheric aerosol nucleation, combining chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy with computational chemistry techniques. Following his PhD, Arsh joined the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Dr. Yuki Nagata and Prof. Mischa Bonn, where he employed heterodyne-detected vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to investigate interfacial phenomena in aqueous systems. His postdoctoral work was supported by fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). In 2024, he was promoted to Group Leader to further advance his research.
Research interests
Our research focuses on developing and refining advanced surface-specific spectroscopic techniques, including heterodyne-detected and time-dependent sum-frequency generation to investigate interfacial structure and dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. These tools enable us to explore fundamental interfacial processes, particularly on-water chemistry, where unique interfacial effects drive reactions distinct from bulk-phase behavior. Our studies encompass light-induced chemistry, interfacial CO₂ reduction, 2D material synthesis, and aerosol particle aging. Additionally, we investigate interfacial water structure, hydrogen bonding networks, electric double-layer (EDL) formation, and charge transfer mechanisms at mineral, polymer, and 2D material interfaces. By combining cutting-edge spectroscopy with fundamental interfacial science, our work advances molecular-scale understanding in energy, environmental chemistry, and materials research.