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Graham DJ, Gamble LJ. Back to the basics of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry of bio-related samples. I. Instrumentation and data collection. Biointerphases 2023; 18:021201. [PMID: 36990800 PMCID: PMC10063322 DOI: 10.1116/6.0002477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is used widely throughout industrial and academic research due to the high information content of the chemically specific data it produces. Modern ToF-SIMS instruments can generate high mass resolution data that can be displayed as spectra and images (2D and 3D). This enables determining the distribution of molecules across and into a surface and provides access to information not obtainable from other methods. With this detailed chemical information comes a steep learning curve in how to properly acquire and interpret the data. This Tutorial is aimed at helping ToF-SIMS users to plan for and collect ToF-SIMS data. The second Tutorial in this series will cover how to process, display, and interpret ToF-SIMS data.
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Delcorte A, Delmez V, Dupont-Gillain C, Lauzin C, Jefford H, Chundak M, Poleunis C, Moshkunov K. Large cluster ions: soft local probes and tools for organic and bio surfaces. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:17427-17447. [PMID: 32568320 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp02398a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Ionised cluster beams have been produced and employed for thin film deposition and surface processing for half a century. In the last two decades, kiloelectronvolt cluster ions have also proved to be outstanding for surface characterisation by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), because their sputter and ion yields are enhanced in a non-linear fashion with respect to monoatomic projectiles, with a resulting step change of sensitivity for analysis and imaging. In particular, large gas cluster ion beams, or GCIB, have now become a reference in organic surface and thin film analysis using SIMS and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The reason is that they induce soft molecular desorption and offer the opportunity to conduct damageless depth-profiling and 3D molecular imaging of the most sensitive organic electronics and biological samples, with a nanoscale depth resolution. In line with these recent developments, the present review focuses on rather weakly-bound, light-element cluster ions, such as noble or other gas clusters, and water or alcohol nanodroplets (excluding clusters made of metals, inorganic salts or ionic liquids) and their interaction with surfaces (essentially, but not exclusively, organic). The scope of this article encompasses three aspects. The first one is the fundamentals of large cluster impacts with surfaces, using the wealth of information provided by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental observations. The second focus is on recent applications of large cluster ion beams in surface characterisation, including mass spectrometric analysis and 2D localisation of large molecules, molecular depth-profiling and 3D molecular imaging. Finally, the perspective explores cutting edge developments, involving (i) new types of clusters with a chemistry designed to enhance performance for mass spectrometry imaging, (ii) the use of cluster fragment ion backscattering to locally retrieve physical surface properties and (iii) the fabrication of new biosurface and thin film architectures, where large cluster ion beams are used as tools to transfer biomolecules in vacuo from a target reservoir to any collector substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Delcorte
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanoscience, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Gulin AA, Nadtochenko VA, Pogorelova VN, Melnikov MY, Pogorelov AG. Sample Preparation of Biological Tissues and Cells for the Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s106193482006009x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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A novel approach for 3D reconstruction of mice full-grown oocytes by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 412:311-319. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-02237-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Noël C, Busby Y, Mine N, Houssiau L. ToF-SIMS Depth Profiling of Organic Delta Layers with Low-Energy Cesium Ions: Depth Resolution Assessment. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2019; 30:1537-1544. [PMID: 31062288 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02224-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The advent of cluster ion beams has paved the way to the routine 3D analysis of organic heterojunctions. Alternatively, organic thin layers have also been successfully depth profiled with a low-energy cesium ion beam (Cs+), to exploit the high chemical reactivity of cesium atoms, acting as free-radical scavengers. Despite of this, little is known about the depth resolution associated with low-energy Cs+ sputtering on organic multilayers. In this work, amino acids multilayers, consisting of phenylalanine delta layers alternated with tyrosine spacers, were used as model systems to assess the depth resolution associated with 500 eV Cs+ depth profiles. High yields were obtained for quasi-molecular ions from both amino acids, and no significant chemical alteration was noticed under the monoatomic bombardment. A depth resolution as low as 4 nm is demonstrated without sensible degradation on a rather long profile depth (300 nm). Limited depth resolution (> 10 nm) along with high molecular degradation was previously reported on similar systems by combining low-energy Cs+ with Ga+ analysis beam. The use of the Bi3+ analysis beam results in a dramatic improvement of both the characteristic molecular signal intensities and the depth resolution. Even though the analysis beam fluence is very low compared to the sputtering beam fluence, data suggest that further reducing the analysis Bi3+ fluence could improve the depth resolution by ~ 1 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Noël
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique (LISE), Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Yan Busby
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique (LISE), Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Mine
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique (LISE), Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Laurent Houssiau
- Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique (LISE), Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium.
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Detection of ZrO₂ Nanoparticles in Lung Tissue Sections by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Ion Beam Microscopy. NANOMATERIALS 2018; 8:nano8010044. [PMID: 29342982 PMCID: PMC5791131 DOI: 10.3390/nano8010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The increasing use of nanoparticles (NP) in commercial products requires elaborated techniques to detect NP in the tissue of exposed organisms. However, due to the low amount of material, the detection and exact localization of NP within tissue sections is demanding. In this respect, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Ion Beam Microscopy (IBM) are promising techniques, because they both offer sub-micron lateral resolutions along with high sensitivities. Here, we compare the performance of the non-material-consumptive IBM and material-consumptive ToF-SIMS for the detection of ZrO2 NP (primary size 9–10 nm) in rat lung tissue. Unfixed or methanol-fixed air-dried cryo-sections were subjected to IBM using proton beam scanning or to three-dimensional ToF-SIMS (3D ToF-SIMS) using either oxygen or argon gas cluster ion beams for complete sample sputtering. Some sample sites were analyzed first by IBM and subsequently by 3D ToF-SIMS, to compare results from exactly the same site. Both techniques revealed that ZrO2 NP particles occurred mostly agglomerated in phagocytic cells with only small quantities being associated to the lung epithelium, with Zr, S, and P colocalized within the same biological structures. However, while IBM provided quantitative information on element distribution, 3D ToF-SIMS delivered a higher lateral resolution and a lower limit of detection under these conditions. We, therefore, conclude that 3D ToF-SIMS, although not yet a quantitative technique, is a highly valuable tool for the detection of NP in biological tissue.
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Ellsworth AA, Young CN, Stickle WF, Walker AV. New horizons in sputter depth profiling inorganics with giant gas cluster sources: Niobium oxide thin films. SURF INTERFACE ANAL 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/sia.6259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Ellsworth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of Texas at Dallas; 800 W. Campbell Rd Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Christopher N. Young
- Analytical and Development Labs; HP Inc.; 1000 NE Circle Blvd Corvallis OR 97330 USA
| | - William F. Stickle
- Analytical and Development Labs; HP Inc.; 1000 NE Circle Blvd Corvallis OR 97330 USA
| | - Amy V. Walker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of Texas at Dallas; 800 W. Campbell Rd Richardson TX 75080 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Texas at Dallas; 800 W. Campbell Rd Richardson TX 75080 USA
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Improved mass resolution and mass accuracy in TOF-SIMS spectra and images using argon gas cluster ion beams. Biointerphases 2016; 11:02A321. [PMID: 26861497 DOI: 10.1116/1.4941447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The popularity of argon gas cluster ion beams (Ar-GCIB) as primary ion beams in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) has increased because the molecular ions of large organic- and biomolecules can be detected with less damage to the sample surfaces. However, Ar-GCIB is limited by poor mass resolution as well as poor mass accuracy. The inferior quality of the mass resolution in a TOF-SIMS spectrum obtained by using Ar-GCIB compared to the one obtained by a bismuth liquid metal cluster ion beam and others makes it difficult to identify unknown peaks because of the mass interference from the neighboring peaks. However, in this study, the authors demonstrate improved mass resolution in TOF-SIMS using Ar-GCIB through the delayed extraction of secondary ions, a method typically used in TOF mass spectrometry to increase mass resolution. As for poor mass accuracy, although mass calibration using internal peaks with low mass such as hydrogen and carbon is a common approach in TOF-SIMS, it is unsuited to the present study because of the disappearance of the low-mass peaks in the delayed extraction mode. To resolve this issue, external mass calibration, another regularly used method in TOF-MS, was adapted to enhance mass accuracy in the spectrum and image generated by TOF-SIMS using Ar-GCIB in the delayed extraction mode. By producing spectra analyses of a peptide mixture and bovine serum albumin protein digested with trypsin, along with image analyses of rat brain samples, the authors demonstrate for the first time the enhancement of mass resolution and mass accuracy for the purpose of analyzing large biomolecules in TOF-SIMS using Ar-GCIB through the use of delayed extraction and external mass calibration.
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Taylor AJ, Graham DJ, Castner DG. Reconstructing accurate ToF-SIMS depth profiles for organic materials with differential sputter rates. Analyst 2015; 140:6005-14. [PMID: 26185799 PMCID: PMC4532557 DOI: 10.1039/c5an00860c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
To properly process and reconstruct 3D ToF-SIMS data from systems such as multi-component polymers, drug delivery scaffolds, cells and tissues, it is important to understand the sputtering behavior of the sample. Modern cluster sources enable efficient and stable sputtering of many organics materials. However, not all materials sputter at the same rate and few studies have explored how different sputter rates may distort reconstructed depth profiles of multicomponent materials. In this study spun-cast bilayer polymer films of polystyrene and PMMA are used as model systems to optimize methods for the reconstruction of depth profiles in systems exhibiting different sputter rates between components. Transforming the bilayer depth profile from sputter time to depth using a single sputter rate fails to account for sputter rate variations during the profile. This leads to inaccurate apparent layer thicknesses and interfacial positions, as well as the appearance of continued sputtering into the substrate. Applying measured single component sputter rates to the bilayer films with a step change in sputter rate at the interfaces yields more accurate film thickness and interface positions. The transformation can be further improved by applying a linear sputter rate transition across the interface, thus modeling the sputter rate changes seen in polymer blends. This more closely reflects the expected sputtering behavior. This study highlights the need for both accurate evaluation of component sputter rates and the careful conversion of sputter time to depth, if accurate 3D reconstructions of complex multi-component organic and biological samples are to be achieved. The effects of errors in sputter rate determination are also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Taylor
- National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO), Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Bich C, Havelund R, Moellers R, Touboul D, Kollmer F, Niehuis E, Gilmore IS, Brunelle A. Argon Cluster Ion Source Evaluation on Lipid Standards and Rat Brain Tissue Samples. Anal Chem 2013; 85:7745-52. [DOI: 10.1021/ac4009513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bich
- Centre de Recherche de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS,
Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Rasmus Havelund
- Surface and Nanoanalysis, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Teddington, Middlesex, TW11
0LW, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Touboul
- Centre de Recherche de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS,
Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Felix Kollmer
- ION-TOF GmbH, Heisenbergstr.15, 48149 Münster,
Germany
| | - Ewald Niehuis
- ION-TOF GmbH, Heisenbergstr.15, 48149 Münster,
Germany
| | - Ian S. Gilmore
- Surface and Nanoanalysis, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Teddington, Middlesex, TW11
0LW, United Kingdom
| | - Alain Brunelle
- Centre de Recherche de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS,
Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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ToF-S-SIMS molecular 3D analysis of micro-objects as an alternative to ion beam erosion at large depth: application to single inkjet dots. Anal Bioanal Chem 2013; 405:2053-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Mouhib T, Poleunis C, Wehbe N, Michels JJ, Galagan Y, Houssiau L, Bertrand P, Delcorte A. Molecular depth profiling of organic photovoltaic heterojunction layers by ToF-SIMS: comparative evaluation of three sputtering beams. Analyst 2013; 138:6801-10. [DOI: 10.1039/c3an01035j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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