Critical evaluation of recent achievements in low power glow discharge generated at atmospheric pressure between a flowing liquid cathode and a metallic anode for element analysis by optical emission spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) sustained in air between a metallic pin anode and the surface of a flowing liquid cathode (FLC) solution is a small and compact excitation source, in which the analytes are inherently transported to the discharge during its normal operation through electro-spray-like generation of tiny solution droplets and/or sputtering of the FLC solution surface. This survey is devoted to recent development of FLC-APGD in respect to basic researches and its applications in element analysis by optical emission spectrometry (OES). Particular attention is paid to the latest modifications in the construction of the discharge cells and the composition of the FLC solution and their implications for analytical performance of FLC-APGD-OES.