Data from: High roughness and porosity of indoor surfaces increases adsorption capacity and may impact indoor air quality
Data files
Sep 21, 2026 version files 5.06 MB
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AFM_data.zip
4.68 MB
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BET_data.zip
376.47 KB
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README.md
2.16 KB
Abstract
Surface properties affect gas-surface interactions indoors and, in turn, indoor air quality. Specific surface area impacts adsorption capacity, while pores increase diffusion and storage in the bulk material. We measured roughness, porosity, and specific surface area of eleven common indoor surfaces and calculated the adsorption capacity of an authentic office space. Roughness and surface index were measured with an Atomic Force Microscope in tapping mode. Topographical images were also obtained with an Atomic Force Microscope in tapping mode. Porosity and specific surface area were measured with a BET Specific Surface Area Analyzer. The specific surface area of the office is four orders of magnitude greater than the geometric surface area typically considered in indoor studies. Paint decreases the specific surface area for wood and drywall. The pores within surfaces can enhance diffusion, resulting in different bulk diffusion equilibration timescales for different surfaces; ceiling tile, carpet, and wood require longer timescales (up to years) to equilibrate. More solid surfaces with lower adsorption capacity and longer diffusive timescales improve air quality in the long term by decreasing the gas-phase contaminants stored on surfaces that can be later re-emitted. Understanding and obtaining the physical properties of a variety of indoor surfaces are important to improve indoor air quality.
Surface Physical Property Characterization Files and Images
Delphine Farmer
Colorado State University
PI_CONTACT_INFO: Email: delphine.fartmer@colostate.edu
Address: Colorado State University, Chemistry Department, Fort Collins, CO
Description of BET_data.zip:
This zip file contains data measured using the BET Specific Surface Area Analyzer. This data was used to determine specific surface area and total pore volume and obtain pore size distributions. Measurements were taken from 04/23/2024-07/10/2025. Files are named after the surface sample measured and the replicate number. The following is a summary of the data in each tab of each file.
- Summary Report: contains operation parameters and a summary of data determined from the BET Specific Surface Area Analyzer
- Isotherm Tabular Report: contains the adsorption and desorption isotherms from 0.01 to0.99 relative pressure for samples using nitrogen adsorbate and the adsorption isotherm from ~0.05-0.~2 relative pressure for samples using krypton adsorbate.
- BET surface area: contains the data for the derived BET surface area plot that is used to determine BET specific surface area, BET C value, and theoretical monolayer.
- BJH Desorption Pore Distribution: contains the pore size distribution for samples measured with nitrogen adsorbate. The data were derived using the desorption isotherm, BJH method, and Kelvin equation. Samples measured using krypton adsorbate do not have this tab.
Description of AFM_data.zip:
This zip file contains the data measured and images taken using the Atomic Force Microscope. This data was used to determine roughness and surface index and obtain topographical images. Measurements were taken from 09/18/2024-06/26/2025. Subfolders are named after each surface measured. Each subfolder contains images of each replicate and an Excel file containing root mean square roughness (nm), arithmetic roughness (nm), surface area difference, and surface index for that surface.