Laser ablation ICP mass spectrometerLaser Ablation Inductively coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

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Laser part

Mass spectrometer

Overview

(1) Mass spectrometer: Thermo Scientific iCAP-RQ A device that analyzes the amount and isotope ratio of the elements that make up the sample. This device is roughly divided into (1) sample introduction section, (2) ion source, (3) mass separation section, and (4) detector. (1) The sample introduced into the ion source (2) in a solid state using a solution or the following laser irradiation device Analyte G2 at the sample introduction part is decomposed in a plasma of about 10000°C, and the constituent elements of the sample are ionized. 　These ions are separated by mass number in the electric field of the four electrode rods to which AC + DC voltage is applied in the ③ mass separation part. Finally, the amount of ions is measured by the detector using the ④ detector for each mass number. 　The detector is equipped with a multiplier tube that amplifies the signal of one ion by approximately 1000000 times, so it is possible to analyze the concentration and isotope ratio of elements that exist in trace amounts from several ppm to several ppt in the sample.。
(2) Laser irradiation device: Excimer laser Analyte G2 manufactured by Photon Machines By irradiating a solid sample with an ArF excimer laser with a wavelength of 193 nm, the irradiated surface is pulverized. This device can change the size of the laser from 1 μm to 100 μm in diameter, making it possible to analyze minute areas in minerals. The powdered sample is sent to the above-mentioned iCAP-RQ mass spectrometer with He gas, and the concentration and isotope ratio of the elements that make up the powder are analyzed. This device not only irradiates a laser only on a specific part of the sample, but also irradiates the sample with a laser while moving the stage on which the sample is placed at a constant speed, and analyzes the chemical composition of the powder sample with a mass spectrometer. By doing so, it is possible to perform spatial distribution of the chemical composition of the sample, that is, elemental imaging analysis.