Article contents
Simultaneous Hydrogen and Heavier Element Isotopic Ratio Images with a Scanning Submicron Ion Probe and Mass Resolved Polyatomic Ions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 February 2014
Abstract
In situ microanalysis of solid samples is often performed using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with a submicron ion probe. The destructive nature of the method makes it mandatory to prevent information loss by using instruments combining efficient collection of secondary ions and a mass spectrometer with parallel detection capabilities. The NanoSIMS meets those requirements with a magnetic spectrometer but its mass selectivity has to be improved for accessing opportunities expected from polyatomic secondary ions. We show here that it is possible to perform D/H ratio measurement images using 12CD−/12CH−, 16OD−/16OH−, or 12C2D−/12C2H− ratios. These polyatomic species allow simultaneous recording of D/H ratios and isotopic compositions of heavier elements like 15N/14N (via 12C15N−/12C14N−) and they provide a powerful tool to select the phase of interest (e.g., mineral versus organics). We present high mass resolution spectra and an example of isotopic imaging where D/H ratios were obtained via the 12C2D−/12C2H− ratio with 12C2D− free from neighboring mass interferences. Using an advanced mass resolution protocol, a “conventional” mass resolving power of 25,000 can be achieved. Those results open many perspectives for isotopic imaging at a fine scale in biology, material science, geochemistry, and cosmochemistry.
Keywords
- Type
- Materials Applications
- Information
- Copyright
- © Microscopy Society of America 2014
Footnotes
Research was performed at the Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Curie (Orsay), Laboratoire de Microscopie Ionique and at the Centre de Sciences Nucléaires et de Sciences de la Matière (Orsay).
References
- 13
- Cited by