World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
85
Citations
43536
World Ranking
2610
National Ranking
908

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
92
Citations
51268
World Ranking
529
National Ranking
237

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2012 - Polanyi Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
  • 2001 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1998 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1998 - Fellow of American Physical Society (APS) Citation For work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone
  • 1996 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
  • 1995 - Nobel Prize for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone
  • 1993 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1976 - Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Overview

Mario J. Molina was affiliated with the University of California, San Diego in the United States. Their research spanned multiple domains within physics and engineering, with specific emphasis on atmospheric chemistry, thermodynamics, and astrophysics.

The scientist's work included contributions to the following primary fields of study:

  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Engineering

Subfields of study covered by their research included:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
  • Geophysics

The main topics of their scientific contributions involved:

  • Thermodynamic properties of mixtures
  • Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics
  • Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
  • Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
  • Near-Field Optical Microscopy
  • Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
  • Astro and Planetary Science

Their recent publications provided insight into diverse scientific problems. These included:

  • "An equation of state based on the intermolecular potential and the radial distribution function to estimate the virial coefficients by using PvT chaotic data," 2021, Fluid Phase Equilibria
  • "Dynamic of Si nanoparticles inside of a quadrupolar trap: Analysis of the angular momentum transfer," 2020, Results in Physics
  • "Characterization of asteroid shapes and stability on their surface using super-ellipsoids," 2025, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy

The scientist frequently collaborated with peers such as Manuel F. Pérez-Polo, Javier Gil Chica, Elena Fernández, L. Carretero, and P. Acebal.

Publication venues frequently used by Mario J. Molina included:

  • Fluid Phase Equilibria
  • Results in Physics
  • Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy

Throughout their career, the scientist received several honors including:

  • Polanyi Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), 2012
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2001
  • Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU), 1998
  • Fellow of American Physical Society (APS), 1998, noted for work in atmospheric chemistry concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone
  • Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), 1996
  • Nobel Prize, 1995, for work in atmospheric chemistry concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone
  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences, 1993
  • Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, 1976

Best Publications

  • Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling

    W. B. Demore;S. P. Sander;D. M. Golden;R. F. Hampson

  • Tables of rate constants extracted from chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling. Evaluation number 7

    W. B. Demore;J. J. Margitan;M. J. Molina;R. T. Watson

  • Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atomc-atalysed destruction of ozone

    Unknown

  • The Anthropocene: From Global Change to Planetary Stewardship

    Will Steffen;Will Steffen;Asa Persson;Asa Persson;Lisa Deutsch;J Zalasiewicz

  • Elucidating severe urban haze formation in China

    Song Guo;Min Hu;Misti L. Zamora;Jianfei Peng

  • Persistent sulfate formation from London Fog to Chinese haze

    Gehui Wang;Gehui Wang;Gehui Wang;Renyi Zhang;Renyi Zhang;Mario E. Gomez;Mario E. Gomez;Lingxiao Yang;Lingxiao Yang

  • Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19.

    Renyi Zhang;Yixin Li;Annie L. Zhang;Yuan Wang

  • Secondary organic aerosol formation from anthropogenic air pollution: Rapid and higher than expected

    Rainer Volkamer;Rainer Volkamer;Jose L. Jimenez;Federico San Martini;Federico San Martini;Katja Dzepina

  • Megacities and atmospheric pollution

    Mario J. Molina;Luisa T. Molina

  • Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling

    W. B. Demore;J. J. Margitan;M. J. Molina;R. T. Watson

  • Absolute absorption cross sections of ozone in the 185- to 350-nm wavelength range

    L. T. Molina;M. J. Molina

  • Chlorofluoromethanes in the Environment

    F. S. Rowland;Mario J. Molina

  • Antarctic stratospheric chemistry of chlorine nitrate, hydrogen chloride, and ice: release of active chlorine

    Mario J. Molina;Tai Ly Tso;Luisa T. Molina;Frank C.Y. Wang

  • Improving our fundamental understanding of the role of aerosol−cloud interactions in the climate system

    John H. Seinfeld;Christopher Bretherton;Kenneth S. Carslaw;Hugh Coe

  • Atmospheric new particle formation enhanced by organic acids.

    Renyi Zhang;Inseon Suh;Jun Zhao;Dan Zhang

  • Production of Cl2O2 from the self-reaction of the ClO radical

    L. T. Molina;M. J. Molina

  • Markedly enhanced absorption and direct radiative forcing of black carbon under polluted urban environments

    Jianfei Peng;Min Hu;Song Guo;Zhuofei Du

  • Bringing the ocean into the laboratory to probe the chemical complexity of sea spray aerosol

    Kimberly A. Prather;Timothy H. Bertram;Vicki H. Grassian;Grant B. Deane

  • A missing sink for gas-phase glyoxal in Mexico City: Formation of secondary organic aerosol

    Rainer Volkamer;Rainer Volkamer;Federico San Martini;Luisa T. Molina;Dara Salcedo

  • Evaluation of nitrogen dioxide chemiluminescence monitors in a polluted urban environment

    E. J. Dunlea;E. J. Dunlea;S. C. Herndon;D. D. Nelson;R. M. Volkamer;R. M. Volkamer

  • Characterization of ambient aerosols in Mexico City during the MCMA-2003 campaign with Aerosol Mass Spectrometry: results from the CENICA Supersite

    D. Salcedo;D. Salcedo;T. B. Onasch;K. Dzepina;M. R. Canagaratna

Frequent Co-Authors

Rainer Volkamer
Rainer Volkamer University of Colorado Boulder
Renyi Zhang
Renyi Zhang Texas A&M University
B. de Foy
B. de Foy Saint Louis University
Edward J. Dunlea
Edward J. Dunlea University of Colorado Boulder
Scott C. Herndon
Scott C. Herndon Aerodyne Research
Linsey C. Marr
Linsey C. Marr Virginia Tech
Thomas Loerting
Thomas Loerting University of Innsbruck
Miguel Zavala
Miguel Zavala San Diego State University, Imperial Valley Campus
Charles E. Kolb
Charles E. Kolb Aerodyne Research

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