Laser ablation and secondary ion mass spectrometry of inorganic transition-metal compounds. Part I: comparison between static ToF-SIMS and LA-FTICRMS

LASER IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY AT 55: QUO VADIS?

Laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS) was one of the first practical methods developed for in situ analysis of the surfaces of solid samples. This review will encompass several aspects related to this analytical method. First, we will discuss the process of laser ionization, the influence of the laser type on its performance, and imaging capabilities of this method. In the second chapter, we will follow the historic development of LIMS instrumentation. After a brief overview of the first-generation instruments developed in 1960-1990 years, we will discuss in detail more recent designs, which appeared during the last 2-3 decades. In the last part of our review, we will cover the recent applications of LIMS for surface analysis. These applications include various types of analyses of solid inorganic, organic, and heterogeneous samples, often in combination with depth profiling and imaging capability.

Analytical Methodologies for Agrometallomics: A Critical Review

Agrometallomics, as an independent interdiscipline, is first defined and described in this review. Metallic elements widely exist in agricultural plants, animals and edible fungi, seed, fertilizer, pesticide, feedstuff, as well as the agricultural environment and ecology, and even functional and pathogenic microorganisms. So, the agrometallome plays a vital role in molecular and organismic mechanisms like environmetallomics, metabolomics, proteomics, lipidomics, glycomics, immunomics, genomics, etc. To further reveal the inner and mutual mechanism of the agrometallome, comprehensive and systematic methodologies for the analysis of beneficial and toxic metals are indispensable to investigate elemental existence, concentration, distribution, speciation, and forms in agricultural lives and media. Based on agrometallomics, this review summarizes and discusses the advanced technical progress and future perspectives of metallic analytical approaches, which are categorized into ultrasensitive and high-throughput analysis, elemental speciation and state analysis, and spatial- and microanalysis. Furthermore, the progress of agrometallomic innovativeness greatly depends on the innovative development of modern metallic analysis approaches including, but not limited to, high sensitivity, elemental coverage, and anti-interference; high-resolution isotopic analysis; solid sampling and nondestructive analysis; metal chemical species and metal forms, associated molecular clusters, and macromolecular complexes analysis; and metal-related particles or metal within the microsize and even single cell or subcellular analysis.

Determination of trace elements in high-purity quartz samples by ICP-OES and ICP-MS: A normal-pressure digestion pretreatment method for eliminating unfavorable substrate Si

The analysis of siliceous matrix samples may adopt a two-step pretreatment, which includes melting with ammonium hydrogen fluoride and redissolving with nitric acid. However, the residual of substrate silicon unfavorable to the determination of trace elements in the samples due to serious matrix effects. Here, a new digestion method using simultaneously both ammonium bifluoride and nitric acid under normal pressure was developed for high-purity quartz sand sample. The digestion pretreatment is a two step process: melting/dissolving with both ammonium bifluoride and nitric acid at 200 °C for 2 h, and evaporating the solution at 250 °C to dryness. As confirmed by XRD analysis, silicates in the sample were converted to (NH₄)₃SiF₆NO₃ in the melting/dissolving step. TGA analysis shows that the generated (NH₄)₃SiF₆NO₃ could be decomposed and evaporated completely at 250 °C, which ensured a complete removal of silicon by the followed evaporation of the solution at 250 °C. As a result, the followed ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis needed a solution dilution of only 100 times for the determination of Ca, Mg, Al, Rb, Ba, REE and other trace elements. The new method was applied to the analysis of three certified reference materials, and the results were well consistent with the standard value with RSD% values between 0.62% and 9.73%. Therefore, this method can be applied to the analysis of trace elements in high purity silica-based samples, with the advantages of time-saving, small dilution factor (only 100 times) and low detection limit.

Detection and imaging of chrome yellow (lead chromate) in latent prints, solid residues, and minerals by laser-desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS)

In the past, chrome yellow (lead chromate, PbCrO₄ ), a bright orange-red substance, has been widely used as an inorganic pigment in the production of paints, coatings, and plastics. Herein, we demonstrate that laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) is a powerful tool for the detection of lead chromate in solid residues. In fact, lead chromate in trace amounts is easily detectable by LDI-MS even from residues left as latent prints. For example, a latent print obtained by stamping the exposed laterally cut surface of a pencil over 50 years old on an acetonitrile-moistened paper, was successfully imaged for both lead and chromate using a Synapt G2 HDMS mass spectrometer. After rastering the print with a 355 nm laser beam and recording positive- and negative-ion mass spectra over the range m/z 50-1200, we generated false-color 'heat maps' (single-ion images) for ²⁰⁸ Pb^+• (m/z 207.98) and Cr₂ O₆^-• (m/z 199.85). The heat maps matched closely with the faint visual image of the pencil imprint. Moreover, our results confirmed that lead chromate was used in the pigment coatings of old pencils. Evidently, LDI-MS imaging is an efficient procedure to survey for the presence of lead and chromate in minerals and other materials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reactive deposition of laser ablated FeS1−xparticles on a copper surface

The reactive deposition of laser ablated FeS_1–xparticles on a room-temperature copper surface allows the formation of Cu sulfides.

On Applicability of a Miniaturised Laser Ablation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer for Trace Elements Measurements

We present results from mass spectrometric analysis of NIST standard materials and meteoritic samples conducted by a miniaturised laser ablation mass spectrometer designed for space research. The mass analyser supports investigation with a mass resolution () ≈ 500–600 and dynamic range within seven decades. Nevertheless, to maintain an optimal spectral quality laser irradiances lower than ~1 GW/cm2 are applied so far which results in a spread of RSC values. To achieve the quantitative performance of mass analyser, various effects influencing RSC factors have to be investigated. In this paper we investigate influence of laser irradiance, sampling procedure and plasma chemistry on the quantitative elemental and isotopic analysis. The studies indicate necessity for accurate control of laser characteristics and acquisition procedure. A relatively low irradiance applied causes a negligible sample damage and allows for accumulation of large number of waveforms from one sample location. The procedure yields statistically well averaged data and allows a sensitive in-depth analysis. The quantitative analyses of isotopic composition can be performed with accuracy and precision better as 1% and 2%, for isotopic patterns of elements and clusters, respectively. The numerical integration methods would be preferred to achieve more accurate results. The measurements of Allende sample yield detection of Pb isotopic pattern, nevertheless cluster species are readily observed in spectrum and make the elemental analysis of other trace elements difficult due to isobaric interferences. These detections are of a considerable interest because of possible application of the instrument for in situ elemental and isotopic analysis and radiometric dating of solids.

High irradiance laser ionization mass spectrometry for direct speciation of iron oxides

A novel method has been developed that allows the direct speciation analysis of iron oxides based on a modified laser ionization orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Time resolved mass spectra were acquired for the investigation of elemental ions and oxide ions generated by a laser ionization source. Speciation methodologies, including the identification of characteristic ions and the use of ion abundance ratios were evaluated for the differentiation of the oxides. The influence of operating parameters on the distribution of cluster ions was investigated, and their mechanism of formation discussed.

Laser ablation mass spectrometry of inorganic transition metal compounds. Additional knowledge for the understanding of ion formation

Laser ablation of transition-metal oxides have been investigated to better understand the formation processes of inorganic cluster ions. The study of binary oxide mixtures and the relative distribution of the ions produced suggest three salient mechanisms that occur after laser/matter interaction, that function to produce the observed ensemble of ionic species. Molecular recombination reactions, unimolecular dissociation processes, emission of small neutrals, including molecular oxygen from transition-metal oxide samples, or from species expelled in gas phase appear to be a significant mechanism, especially under high laser irradiance conditions. These processes are used to propose a set of pathways to rationalize the envelope of ionic clusters formed under photon bombardment.

Laser-induced Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry of organic and inorganic compounds: methodologies and applications

The combination of a laser with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICRMS) enables a variety of MS experiments to be conducted. The laser can be used either as an intense photonic source for the photoionization of neutral species introduced in a variety of ways into the FTICR cell, or it can be made to directly interact with a solid, generating gas-phase ions. Depending on the experimental conditions used, various laser-matter interactions can occur. When high laser energy (also referred to as power density or irradiance) is used, laser ablation (LA) processes lead to the release of species into the gas phase, a significant fraction of which are ionic. The number of ions decreases with the irradiance. For low irradiance values, the so-called laser desorption (LD) regime applies, where the expelled species are mainly neutrals. LA-FTICRMS and LD-FTICRMS can be used to study a wide range of materials, including mineral, organic, hybrid and biological compounds (although matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, MALDI, which is not reviewed in this paper, is more commonly applied to biological compounds). This paper will review a selection of methodological developments and applications in the field of laser ionization FTICRMS, LD-FTICRMS, and LA-FTICRMS for the analysis of organics and inorganics in complex mixtures, emphasizing insoluble materials. Specifically, silicate- and carbon-based complex materials as well as organic compounds will be examined due to their relevance to natural environmental and anthropogenic matrices.