A technique for the characterisation of droplet aerosols is presented and theoretically evaluated. The system, which finds applications for example in the experimental study of cloud formation and cloud water chemistry, relies on a four-step process. The droplet aerosol is electrically charged in a unipolar charging unit, followed by diffusion drying of the droplets, resulting in charged particles consisting of non-volatile matter (droplet residues). In the third step, the residual particles are classified by electrostatic spectrometry, and in the final step the residual particles are detected, collected or further characterised. The basic function in respect of the charging process and the particle interaction with water vapour is demonstrated by model calculations, which show that droplets which are activated in a thermodynamical sense can be separated from unactivated droplets. Different strategies for the application of the system are briefly outlined. By measuring two parameters, associated droplet size and residual particle size can be determined. Results From the first field measurement campaign of the resulting instrument are also briefly presented.