Assessment of the usefulness of libs and ICP-MS for the characterization of nanoparticles in industrial and environmental samples

The need for analytical techniques capable for the detection and characterization of nanoparticles (NPs) in industrial and environmental matrices also grows along with the quickly expanding use of NPs in various products. Two candidate analytical techniques are laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Both of these sensitive and versatile techniques provide elemental compositional information. Based on the success of the application of LIBS in aerosol analysis this technique can be expected to be similarly useful in NP monitoring applications, such as the detection of NPs in liquid or gaseous matrices, or for the monitoring of the properties of NPs produced by physical generation methods (e.g. electrical discharges or laser ablation). ICP-MS on the other hand has already proven itself useful in the literature, both in the solution or single particle analysis (spICP-MS) modes, for the characterization of nanoparticles. In recent years we also reported about the successful development of several ICP-MS based analytical methods for the compositional and dimensional analysis of NPs (e.g. [1, 2]). In our study we assessed the potential of LIBS and ICP-MS for nanoparticle detection and characterization both in on-line (only for LIBS) or off-line (following collection on a filter) mode. Dispersions of various types of nanoparticles (e.g. monometallic, bimetallic, oxide) in simulated or real liquid and gaseous industrial and environmental matrices were measured. Some NPs were obtained commercially, while others were generated by inlaboratory developed electrical (spark or arc) discharge generators. Additional and reference characterization of the nanoparticles were performed by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Size and mass detection limits were also calculated for on-line LIBS detection of nanoaerosols and for spICP-MS detection of NPs in aqueous nanodispersions

Detection and characterization of mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles produced by electrical discharge plasma generators using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

This work investigates the performance of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the detection and characterization of nanoparticles generated by spark discharge generators (SDG) and arc discharge generators (ADG). LIBS nanoaerosol analysis was carried out according to both on-line (in a gas stream) and off-line (after collection on a filter) methodologies for monometallic (Cu and Au) and bimetallic (Agsingle bondCo, Snsingle bondCu, Agsingle bondAu) nanoparticles generated by ADG and SDG. It was shown that LIBS is not only capable of detecting the presence of nanoparticles in real time, but LIBS spectra can also be used to provide qualitative and quantitative compositional information, as well as estimates for the particle number concentration. This analytical capability, combined with the compact and robust character of LIBS instrumentation, can be put to use for the real-time monitoring of industrial gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis or environmental or workplace exposure to nanoparticles