Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5141539 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 2017 32 Pages PDF
Abstract
Quantitative nano-imaging of metal traces in a solid is a recent capability arising from the construction of hard X-ray nanoprobes dedicated to X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) imaging on upgraded third generation synchrotrons. Micrometer sample preparation valid for trace analysis is a fundamental part of the required developments to capitalize on the reduced Minimum Detection Limits. Practical guidelines lead us to propose a customized use of Focused Ion Beams (FIB) backed by state of the art Monte Carlo XRF modeling to initiate preparations of new samples and certified standards. The usefulness of these developments is illustrated by the first detection of Ni traces (4.57E+07 ± 3.2E+06 (7.1%) at μm−3) in a 3.35 Ga old microstructure of putative microbial origin from Barberton (South Africa). A list of feasibility checks provides a way of getting below 5 ppm MDLs for acquisition-times of 10 s with an analytical precision better than 10%.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
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