Chapter 3.2 Signal enhancement in LA-ICP-MS analysis by guard electrode and the addition of
3.2.4 Concluding remarks
In this study, we investigated the signal enhancement effects by the addition of N2 and H2 in combination with the guard electrode on 54 elements from 7Li to 238U, as well as oxide yields and doubly charged ion yields in LA-ICP-MS. The spatial profiles of ICP ion distribution are collected in the presence or absence of N2 and H2 in combination with the guard electrode.
The analytical accuracy and precision at different modes based on six glass reference materials are evaluated. Several conclusions are made as follows,
1. Signal intensity of 54 investigated elements is enhanced up to 6 times by using guard electrode compared to without using guard electrode, which is related to the increase of ion density that is induced by the shrinkage of the whole plasma due to guard electrode.
2. Guard electrode shifts the ionization zone backward to sample cone that needs a larger carrier gas flow to compensate.
3. Small amounts of H2 decrease the signal sensitivity without using the guard electrode, while slightly enhance the sensitivity with the guard electrode.
4. Small amounts of N2 shift the ionization zone backward to the sample cone with and without the guard electrode.
5. Those six modes including GE-off, GE-off-N2, GE-off-H2, GE-on, GE-on-N2, GE-on-H2) produce very similar analytical data.
6. The GE-on-N2 (2 ml min-1) is the best instrument conditions for routine multiple trace element analysis.
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