Characterization of a new ion source for mass spectrometry

Characterization of the energy distribution of ions generated by the plasma in an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) instrument is necessary for a new ion source in that it influences the ion sampling process, transmission efficiency, focusing, and mass analysis in ICP-MS. These energy distribution phenomena are also analogous to the ion beam that has been generated from an electron impact ionization (EI) source. Similarly, better understanding of the ion beam profile results in a better optimization of the EI source for superior performance. Recently, we (The Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies (CACT), UofT) developed a new generation of ICP torches, with a conical geometry, which, in comparison with conventional torches, has been proved to provide higher ionization/excitation temperature, higher electron number density, higher robustness, lower interference from easily ionizable elements, and lower multi-element detection limits. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Javad Mostaghimi

Student:

Ali Ebrahimi

Partner:

PerkinElmer Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

Program: