QUALITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF NONCONDUCTING OXIDE-BASED MATERIALS BY RADIO-FREQUENCY GLOW-DISCHARGE MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Radio frequency glow discharge mass spectrometry ((rf GL)MS) has been applied to the qualitative analysis of powdered oxide-based materials (ZrO2, Y2O3 and an InO/SnO mixture (90/10 wt%)) briquetted to pellets. Y and Zr impurities in InO/SnO and Y and Hf impurities in ZrO2 have b een detected A laboratory-developed rf GD source for a commercial ICP mass spectrometer (Fisons VG PQII) has been used. Preliminary optimiza tion of the source parameters using a brass (NIST SRM 1103) sample has been performed The influence of the discharge parameters on analyte s ignals is discussed.