Standardization of time-of-flight laser ionization mass spectrometry analysis of minerals

Abstract

The standardization of the time-of-flight laser ionization mass spectrometry (TOF-LIMS) analysis of mineral surfaces is an important step towards providing reproducible quantitative data. This paper reports the search for experimental conditions and instrumental configurations that provide efficient ionization for all elements of the sample. For that purpose, an investigation of the neutral emission dynamics and the ion yields for the most important elements, as a function of laser power densities, the relative time delay between the ablation and postionization processes, and the sample matrix, was performed. In order to standardize the procedure, an empirical protocol was established, based on the use of optimized system parameters to monitor the ion yield from a library of standard reference samples.