Development of an On-line Low Gas Pressure Cell for Laser Ablation-ICP-Mass Spectrometry

Initial performance metrics of a new custom-designed ArF excimer LA-ICPMS system coupled to a two-volume laser-ablation cell

“…(1) Full flexibility in sample size (50 Â 50 mm, 25 mm deep) (2) Rapid signal washout (less than 1s/order of magnitude) (3) Invariant gas flow around the ablation site to ensure reproducible elemental and/or isotopic fractionation, irrespective of sample position relative to gas in/outlets (4) High and uniform sensitivity, irrespective of position in cell ( 5) Smooth signals at low laser repetition rates (<5 Hz), important for e.g. depth-profiling (6) Fully computer-controlled X-Y stage movement (7) No cross contamination of samples in LA cell These requirements are met in the 'Laurin' LA cell by placing a small (effective volume $1-2 cm 3 ), funnel-shaped inner cell, with a hole at the funnel bottom, above a sample holder in a gas tight sample cell box with a volume of 380 cm 3 (Fig. 1).…”

Recent developments in the design of rapid response cells for laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and their impact on bioimaging applications

“…The following subsections present a general overview of the core concepts inuencing the speed and efficiency of aerosol capture, transport, and detection, and their impact on ablation cell and transport conduit design. [22][23][24][25] These developments and insights are stepping stones to further progress ablation cell technology.…”

Atomic spectrometry update. Atomic mass spectrometry

“…Numerous studies investigated new or modified ablation cells for improved LA-ICP-MS. An on-line low-pressure ablation cell was evacuated by a constant-flow diaphragm pump, with the pressure in the cell and transport efficiency controlled by changing the flow rate of the He carrier gas. 126 The evacuated gas was then mixed with an Ar make-up gas and introduced into a baffled-type stabilizer, which acted as a particle filter and suppressor of a pneumatic pulse from the pump. Analyte signal intensity was maximized at He carrier and Ar make-up gas flow rates of 0.4 and 1.2 l min À1 , respectively.…”