Atmospheric ice-nucleating particles (INPs) from mineral dust and non-proteinaceous biological sources can influence cloud formation, precipitation, and Earth’s radiation budget due to their efficient freezing abilities. The ambient aerosol particles from these sources are abundant with ambient concentrations exceeding a few µg m^-3 for each type. Thus, the characterization of INPs and aerosol particles from these sources is important. We typically characterize their specific surface area (SSA), which is the primary variable to estimate their ice-nucleation active surface site density, using a sorbate gas, such as nitrogen. However, it is still uncertain how these particles interact with water vapor under subzero temperatures. To fill this gap, we used the 3Flex instrument (Micromeritics Instrument Corp.) with multiple sorbates to comprehensively characterize the nanoscale surface structure, pore size distribution, and accessibility to water molecules of a commercially available model proxy of mineral dust (illite NX) and cellulose materials. To date, we have completed more than 60 physisorption 3Flex experiments with various sorbates, such as CO2, H2O, Kr, and N2, for each sorbent. In particular, we examined SSA by water vapor sorption at temperatures relevant to atmospheric heterogeneous freezing (~ 0 to -20 °C). We will present our results as physisorption isotherms. In addition, our preliminary results of temperature-dependent SSA observed for micro- and nano-crystalline cellulose materials as well as illite NX will be discussed. Our preliminary result suggests that the SSA of illite NX is less temperature-dependent compared to the cellulose materials, which may be potentially swelling while interacting with water. Therefore, illite NX may be suitable for an INP test proxy.