Recent trends and developments in laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry

The increased interest in laser technology (e.g. for micro-machining, for m edical applications, light shows, CD-players) is a tremendous driving force for the development of new laser types and optical set-ups. This directly influences their use in analytical chemistry. For direct analysis of the el emental composition of solids, mostly solid state lasers, such as Nd:YAG la ser systems operating at 1064 nm (fundamental wavelength), 266 nm (frequenc y quadrupled) and even 213 nm (frequency quintupled) have been investigated in combination with all available inductively coupled plasma mass spectrom eters. The trend towards shorter wavelengths (1064 nm 157 nm) was initiated by access to high quality optical materials which led to the incorporation of UV gas lasers, such as excimer lasers (XeCl 308 nm, KrF 248 nm, ArF 193 nm, and F-2 157 run) into laser ablation set-ups. The flexibility in laser wavelengths, output energy, repetition rate, and spatial resolution allows qualitative and quantitative local and bulk elemental analysis as well as the determination of isotope ratios. However, the ablation process and the ablation behavior of various solid samples are different and no laser wavel ength was found suitable for all types of solid samples. This article highl ights some of the successfully applied systems in LA-TCP-MS. The current fi elds of applications are explained on selected examples using 266 nm and 19 3 nm laser ablation systems.