Comparison of 265 nm Femtosecond and 213 nm Nanosecond Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Pb Isotope Ratio Measurements

Abstract

The analytical performance of 265 nm femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA) and 213 nm nanosecond laser ablation (ns-LA) systems coupled with multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) for Pb isotope ratio measurements of solder were compared. Although the time-resolved signals of Pb measured by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS showed smoother signals compared to those obtained by ns-LA-MC-ICPMS, similar precisions on Pb isotope ratio measurements were obtained between them, even though their operating conditions were slightly different. The mass bias correction of the Pb isotope ratio measurement was carried out by a comparison method using a Pb standard solution prepared from NIST SRM 981 Pb metal isotopic standard, which was introduced into the ICP by a desolvation nebulizer (DSN) via a dual-sample introduction system, and it was successfully demonstrated for Pb isotope ratio measurements for either NIST 981 metal isotopic standard or solder by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS since the analytical results agreed well with the certified value as well as the determined value within their standard deviations obtained and the expanded uncertainty of the certified or determined value. The Pb isotope ratios of solder obtained by ns-LA-MC-ICPMS also showed agreement with respect to the determined value within their standard deviations and expanded uncertainty. From these results, it was evaluated that the mass bias correction applied in the present study was useful and both LA-MC-ICPMS could show similar analytical performance for the Pb isotope ratio microanalysis of metallic samples such as solder.Keywords 265 nm femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA), 213 nm nanosecond laser ablation (ns-LA), multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS), LA-MC-ICPMS, Pb isotope ratio measurements, solder

Studies on Isotope Ratio Measurement of Cl by Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple-quad Mass Spectrometry

“…An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) has also been more and more involved in isotope ratio measurements, especially for heavy elements such as Fe, Cu, Mo, Cd, Cs, Nd, Hf, W, Tl, Pb, U, and so on. 2,[5][6][7][8][9][10][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][30][31][32][33][34] However, the subjects still remain with respect to the analysis of light elements such as H, C, N, and O as well as Si, S and Cl, that suffer from the huge background signals from H2O, air entrainment (N2, O2, CO2) and Ar plasma gas.…”

U–Th–Pb geochronology and simultaneous analysis of multiple isotope systems in geological samples by LA-MC-ICP-MS

“…Laserinduced downhole fractionation of 206 Pb and 238 U was detected during zircon dating using a 260 nm NWR fs-LA and attributed to thermal effects by Hattori et al (2017) 7 , although the observed fractionation was smaller than that induced during ns-LA. In addition, comparable elemental fractionation effects have been noted using 193 nm nanosecond-LA (ns-LA), 265 nm fs-LA and 795 nm fs-LA, 85,86 and elemental fractionation was observed on 66 Zn/ 65 Cu and 208 Pb/ 238 U ratios in the aerosol produced by fs-LA of silicate glass (SRM NIST 610) by Koch et al (2006). 87 Heat diffusion processes can penetrate a zone encompassing several hundreds of nm even using short pulse length fs-LA, 88 and the chemical composition of aerosols produced during the fs-LA of natural and synthetic solids is dependent on particle size and morphology as pronounced element partitioning into different particle size fractions has been observed.…”

“…134 The internal and external reproducibility of isotope composition, element concentration and ratio depend primarily on instrument dri, matrix difference between reference materials and samples, signal stability and signal intensity. Typical uncertainties (2 s) are about 1%, 1-2% and 1-3% for 206 Pb/ 238 U ages measured with a MC-ICP-MS, sector eld ICP-MS and single quadrupole ICP-MS, respectively, 12,13,17,132,135 0.007-0.01% for 176 Hf/ 177 Hf, [12][13][14]17 0.01% for 143 Nd/ 144 Nd 16,133 and 0.015% for 86 Sr/ 87 Sr. 16 However, the main limitation of simultaneous measurement of multiple isotope systems is that the signal intensity on the individual ICP-MS instruments decreases, compared to that obtained from separate measurements of Sr, Nd, Hf, and U-Pb isotopes and trace elements. Signal intensity can be improved if the He carrier gas is mixed with a small amount of N 2 (less than 5 mL min À1 ) before it enters the ICP.…”

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

“…Ohata et al reported on "Comparison of 265 nm Femtosecond and 213 nm Nanosecond Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Pb Isotope Ratio Measurements". 5 They revealed the similar analytical performance of 265 nm femtosecond laser and 213 nm nanosecond laser ablation systems for Pb isotope ratio measurements of solder. They also reported on "Studies on Isotope Ratio Measurement of Cl by Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple-quad Mass Spectrometry", describing an isotope ratio measurement of Cl using ICP-MS/ MS. 6 Similar sensitivities as those obtained by ICP-SFMS and the precisions of 0.2 -0.5% of RSD at the concentration range of 1 -10 mg kg -1 were obtained.…”