About the Plasma Analytical Lab
In 2009, a new plasma analytical facility was established to replace our 15 year old Element 1 (the first in an U.S. academic lab). The facility now includes a Thermo Element XR high-resolution ICPMS, an Thermo X-Series II quadrupole ICPMS, a Thermo iCap 7400 ICP-OES, a Photon Machines Analyte 193H excimer laser system, and a Zygo NewView Element XR7200 Vertical Scanning Interferometer for depth profiling and analysis of laser pit morphology.
ICP-SF-MS, ICP-Q-MS, ICP-OES, how do they compare?
Combined with our suite of plasma introduction systems (desolvating nebulizers, flow injection system, Peltier-cooled spray chambers, etc.), we are equipped to measure most of the periodic table, over a wide range of concentrations, in solids and liquids of a wide range of compositions. A diverse user group includes marine chemists, igneous geochemists, cosmochemists, archaeologists, inorganic chemists, geochronologists, environmental toxicologists, and paleo-oceanographers, to name a few.
The Plasma Lab does not support sample preparation or clean lab facilities. However, these capabilities do exist in the UCSC Earth and Marine building. Please see a partial description of these facilities here.
Element XR (eXtended Range) magnetic sector high resolution ICP-MS
Selectable mass-resolution and high sensitivity facilitate the reduction of interferences for for quantification of trace to ultra-trace analyte concentrations.
Element XR more information
Manufacturer's Technical Note (good intro)
Startup and Shutdown quick guide (our in-house guide)
Relative Abundances of Naturally Occurring Isotopes
Table of Polyatomic Interferences (detailed, but not exhaustive)
X-Series II quadrupole ICP-MS
Robust, fast-scanning quadrupole mass spectrometer ideal for quantification of ppb to ppm concentrations in aqueous low- to medium-load matrices or coupled to the laser ablation system for the analysis of solid samples. We have also coupled the quad to additional introduction system for speciation analyses.
Thermo X-Series II more information
X-Series startup and shutdown quick guide (our in-house guide)
Thermo iCap 7400 radial view ICP-OES (Optical Emission Spectroscopy)
An versatile analytical tool to measure ~ppm level trace elements in a variety of diverse aqueous sample matrices.
iCap 7400 more information
Manufacturer's Brochure (good intro) and Technical Note
Instrument Quick Guide (our in-house guide)
Photon Machines (now Teledyne Photon Machines) Analyte 193H excimer Laser Ablation System
For introducing solids as aerosols to an ICP-MS. This is a highly capable laser ablation system combining ultra-short pulse length (<5ns) at 193nm wavelength. Can be coupled to either of the ICP-MS. A HelEx II Active 2-Volume Cell enables fast sample exchange, high stage location and signal reproducibility, and fast washout. The laser was upgraded in 2015.