Laser ablation sample introduction system for ICP-MS elemental analysis

电感耦合等离子体质谱计(电感耦合等离子体质谱)的成功研制使人们能够在极低的浓度水平下对大量元素进行快速、精确的丰度和同位素分析。这项技术与激光烧蚀(LA)微量取样固体材料的能力相结合，产生了一种仪器(LA-ICPMS)，能够以高度的灵敏度和空间分辨率测量样品中的元素丰度。因此，LA-ICPMS构成了目前可用的单一最强大的微量分析技术。LA-ICP-MS的另一个属性是执行时间分辨分析的能力，在该分析中，元素丰度在消融到样品中期间被监测。这项技术提供了与样品的均质性有关的基本信息，即是否存在亚微米级的离散相包裹体，并可用于量化产生瞬变信号的材料中的元素丰度，如流体或熔融包裹体或纳米颗粒。在大多数情况下，只需要最少的样品准备。这种方法可以测量各种固体，包括透明玻璃、电池原料、半导体、骨骼、头发、矿物标本、金属等。需要资金购买完整的激光烧蚀样品输送系统，包括一台带有光束输送光学装置的213 nm激光器、自动化工作台、烧蚀室、视频成像和数据还原软件。该样品导入系统将与位于Dalhousie健康和环境研究中心[HERC]实验室的现有Thermo Science ICAP Q ICP-MS相结合。因此，这一合并的样品引进和分析系统将为区域研究界提供一种新的分析能力，使其能够在需要进行微量元素微量分析的广泛领域取得进展。

The successful development of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (ICP-MS) now makes it possible to perform rapid, precise abundance and isotope analysis of a large array of elements at very low concentration levels. This technology, combined with the ability to microsample solid materials by laser ablation (LA), produces an instrument (LA-ICP-MS) with the ability to measure element abundances in samples with a high degree of sensitivity and spatial resolution. Thus, LA-ICP-MS constitutes the single most powerful microanalytical technique currently available. An additional attribute of LA-ICP-MS is the capacity to perform time-resolved analyses, in which the element abundance is monitored during ablation into the sample. This technique provides essential information bearing on the homogeneity of the sample, the presence of submicron-scale inclusions of discrete phases, and can be used to quantify element abundances in materials that produce transient signals, such as fluid or melt inclusions or nanoparticles. In most cases, minimal sample preparation is required. A broad range of solids can be measured by this method, including transparent glasses, battery feedstock, semiconductors, bone, hair, mineral specimens, metals, etc. Funds are requested to purchase a complete laser ablation sample delivery system, consisting of a 213 nm laser with beam delivery optics, automated stage, ablation cell, video imaging and data reduction software. This sample introduction system will be coupled to the existing Thermo Scientific iCAP Q ICP-MS located in Dalhousie’s Health and Environments Research Centre [HERC] Laboratory. This combined sample introduction and analysis system will thereby provide the regional research community with a new analytical capability, enabling advances in a wide range of areas in which trace element microanalysis is required.