Non-matrix-matched calibration in bulk multi-element laser ablation - Inductively coupled plasma - Mass spectrometry analysis of diverse materials.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a frequently used microanalytical technique in elemental analysis of solid samples. In most instances the use of matrix-matched calibration standards is necessary for the accurate determination of elemental concentrations. However, the main drawback of this approach is the limited availability of certified reference materials.

Evaluation of two-phase sample transport upon ablation of gelatin as a proxy for soft biological matrices using nanosecond laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry.

Background: Recent papers on LA-ICP-MS have reported that certain elements are transported in particulate form, others in gaseous form and still others in a combination of both upon ablation of C-based materials. These two phases display different transport behaviour characteristics, potentially causing smearing in elemental maps, and could be processed differently in the ICP which raises concerns as to accuracy of quantification and emphasizes the need for matrix-matching of external standards. This work aims at a better understanding of two-phase sample transport by evaluating the peak profile changes observed upon varying parameters such as laser energy density and wavelength.

Utilizing ablation volume for calibration in LA-ICP-MS mapping to address variations in ablation rates within and between matrices.

Quantification in 2D LA-ICP-MS mapping generally requires matrix-matched standards to minimize issues related to elemental fractionation. In addition, internal standardization is commonly applied to correct for instrumental drift and fluctuation, whereas also differences in ablated mass can be rectified for samples that cannot be sectioned and subjected to total ablation. However, it is crucial that the internal standard element is homogeneously distributed in the sample and that the laser light absorptivity is uniform over the surface.

High-resolution single pulse LA-ICP-MS mapping via 2D sub-pixel oversampling on orthogonal and hexagonal ablation grids - A computational assessment.

Laser beam profiles in analytical laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) instruments are in general homogenized to produce a flat-top beam profile. However, in practice, they are mostly super-Gaussian in nature, and for small laser beam sizes (<5 μm) they even approach a Gaussian profile. This implies that the amount of surface material sampled by the laser (=ablation volume) directly depends on the beam profile and ablation grid.

Exploring the Benefits of Ablation Grid Adaptation in 2D/3D Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Mapping through Geometrical Modeling.

This study aims to investigate the potential benefits of adapting the ablating grid in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in a single pulse mapping mode. The goals include enhancing the accuracy of surface sampling of element distributions, improving the control of depth-related sampling, smoothing the post-ablation surface for layer-by-layer sampling, and increasing the image quality. To emulate the capabilities of currently unavailable laser ablation stages, a computational approach using geometrical modeling was employed to compound square or round experimentally obtained 3D crater profiles on variable orthogonal or hexagonal ablation grids.