Application of 7N In as secondary cathode for the direct current‐glow discharge mass spectrometry analysis of solid, fused high‐purity quartz

Abstract

Direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry with an indium-based secondary cathode technique is used to analyze solid, nonconducting, fused high-purity quartz regarding metallic impurities of relevance to the solar industry. Details of the analytical routines are presented. In this work, the secondary cathode design and glow discharge conditions are optimized beyond the commonly applied practices. In addition, relative sensitivity factors (RSFs) for these optimized conditions are established and compared to previously published results. The results indicate that the technique enables stable measurements with detection limits down to the part per billion (ppb) range.

Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials

“…In one by Busam et al the solid, fused high purity quartz was analysed using direct current GD-MS employing indium of 7N purity as a secondary cathode. 234 Quartz is a non-conducting material and can therefore present problems during analysis. In this method, a secondary cathode is sputtered onto the sample during the discharge.…”