Analytical microprobes: getting more out of less

Vadillo-Pérez, José Miguel

Vadillo-Pérez, José Miguel · 2017

Abstract

The arsenal of techniques capable of getting chemical information from reduced spatial domains has been a constant in the analytical instrumentation. Such evolution has run in parallel with the extraordinary advances in the field of microscopy that have produced a deep impact in our vision of the world and the relationship between functionality and molecular structure. It was obvious since our access to the microscopic world that even the most homogeneous structures where far from being considered as such when the zoom was on. Microbeam analysts are challenged daily by the sophisticated problems which arise with our high-tech world, and the shocking voracity of bioanalysis for any tool capable of a better understanding of our living systems. Since the early days of modern spectrochemical analysis where the capabilities of arc/spark to perform chemical analysis localized over an area of several square millimeters, a long journey has been run. One of the main advances has been the happy marriage of such techniques with mass spectrometry to get the best of both worlds. Nowadays, lasers, electron guns, ion guns, discharge lamps, electrospray jets, metal capillaries and many other approaches are used to create ions from reduced sample areas that are further sorted and detected in a mass spectrometer. The applications are still growing and it is still difficult to see if there is a limit. The talk will provide an overview of analytical microprobes focusing in those involving lasers and gas guns. Thus, laser-ionization mass spectrometry, secondary ion mass spectrometry or low-energy ion scattering will be commented and compared with some other. Selected applications will be shown trying to emphasize the strengths of the techniques, without forgetting the inherent weaknesses of each one.

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Analytical microprobes: getting more out of less

Author: Vadillo-Pérez, José Miguel

Year: 2017

Source: https://riuma.uma.es/xmlui/bitstream/10630/14770/3/VADILLO_IPOIMS%202017.pdf

ANALYTICAL MICROPROBES: GETTING MORE OUT OF LESS
José M. Vadillo
Uni e sidad de Málaga, UMALASERLAB, Jimenez F aud 3, 29010 Málaga, España-Spain
The a senal o echniques capable o ge ing chemical in o ma ion om educed spa ial domains
has been a cons an in he analy ical ins umen a ion. Such e olu ion has un in pa allel wi h he
ex ao dina y ad ances in he ield o mic oscopy ha ha e p oduced a deep impac in ou ision
o he wo ld and he ela ionship be ween unc ionali y and molecula s uc u e. I was ob ious
since ou access o he mic oscopic wo ld ha e en he mos homogeneous s uc u es whe e a
om being conside ed as such when he zoom was on. Mic obeam analys s a e challenged daily
by he sophis ica ed p oblems which a ise wi h ou high- ech wo ld, and he shocking o aci y o
bioanalysis o any ool capable o a be e unde s anding o ou li ing sys ems.
Since he ea ly days o mode n spec ochemical analysis whe e he capabili ies o a c/spa k o
pe o m chemical analysis localized o e an a ea o se e al squa e millime e s, a long jou ney has
been un. One o he main ad ances has been he happy ma iage o such echniques wi h mass
spec ome y o ge he bes o bo h wo lds. Nowadays, lase s, elec on guns, ion guns, discha ge
lamps, elec osp ay je s, me al capilla ies and many o he app oaches a e used o c ea e ions om
educed sample a eas ha a e u he so ed and de ec ed in a mass spec ome e . The applica ions
a e s ill g owing and i is s ill di icul o see i he e is a limi .
The alk will p o ide an o e iew o analy ical mic op obes ocusing in hose in ol ing lase s and
gas guns. Thus, lase -ioniza ion mass spec ome y, seconda y ion mass spec ome y o low-
ene gy ion sca e ing will be commen ed and compa ed wi h some o he . Selec ed applica ions
will be shown ying o emphasize he s eng hs o he echniques, wi hou o ge ing he inhe en
weaknesses o each one.