Size- and Composition-Dependent Hygroscopic Growth of Sub-20 nm Atmospherically Relevant Particles: Implications for New Particle Survival.

New particle formation (NPF) is a significant source of atmospheric particle number concentration and cloud condensation nuclei. The fate of nascent particles is dependent on their ability to take up water, a process influenced by particle size, composition, and morphology. However, there is a lack of comprehensive characterization of the hygroscopic properties of sub-20 nm particles that are compositionally similar to those of atmospheric new particles, leading to uncertainties in predicting their growth and survival.