Issue 1, 2016

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry elemental mapping with restrictive anode array masks

Abstract

Large-area surface elemental mapping is highly beneficial for a multitude of applications in fields from materials science to biology. Current typical methods, however, suffer from long acquisition times. Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), under pulsed-power and higher pressure operation, exhibits a great potential for ultrahigh throughput chemical imaging of large surface area samples. Up until now, various proof-of-principle studies of GDOES elemental mapping have only been applied to smaller surface area samples. Thus, there is a need for development of GDOES systems that allow for analysis of large area samples. Here, the design of different GD configurations for large area sample (10 cm diameter) analysis is investigated as a function of operating conditions such as pressure (133–4000 Pa), applied power (up to 5 kW), and pulsing. An open face electrode (OFE) design generated undesirable heterogeneous plasma at the higher pressures required for achieving spatial resolution. On the other hand, a restrictive anode array mask (RAAM) design provided notable homogeneity within the same pressure range and enabled the lateral resolution of 1 mm diameter silver inclusions embedded in copper. RAAMS were designed varying thickness (3 mm and 12 mm), aperture size (4, 6, 8 mm), geometry, and grounding. Also, as the section sputtered is restricted to the area covered by the apertures, the RAAM provides the opportunity for subsequent analysis of the unsputtered regions via alternative methods. In addition, the RAAM permits higher power densities to be achieved within the limitations of the power supply. These findings help to pave the way for exploiting the full potential of GDOES and its ultrahigh throughput elemental mapping of large surface area samples.

Graphical abstract: Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry elemental mapping with restrictive anode array masks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Jul 2015
Accepted
13 Aug 2015
First published
13 Aug 2015

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2016,31, 163-170

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry elemental mapping with restrictive anode array masks

M. Kroschk, J. Usala, T. Addesso and G. Gamez, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2016, 31, 163 DOI: 10.1039/C5JA00288E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements