Nu Instruments | Understanding Oxide Formation Effects in Neodymium Isotope Analysis
This application note investigates the impact of oxide formation on neodymium isotope measurements by MC-ICP-MS. The study evaluates different instrument configurations and identifies operating conditions that maximise measurement accuracy while maintaining sensitivity.
Efforts to increase instrument sensitivity can often lead to increased rare earth oxide formation, potentially introducing non-linear mass bias effects that are difficult to correct. This study examined the relationship between operating conditions, oxide formation and isotopic accuracy for neodymium measurements.
Measurements were performed across a wide range of wet plasma and dry plasma configurations using different sample introduction systems, skimmer cones and gas flow conditions. Oxide formation rates were monitored for multiple neodymium isotopes over an extended period.
Results showed that low oxide formation is critical for accurate dry plasma measurements, while wet plasma analyses were largely unaffected. The addition of nitrogen gas after desolvation significantly reduced oxide formation while improving overall signal intensity, offering a practical route to higher sensitivity and improved accuracy.
Key Takeaways:
- Low oxide formation improves neodymium isotope accuracy in dry plasma mode.
- Nitrogen addition reduces oxide formation while increasing sensitivity.
- Different plasma configurations can significantly affect isotope measurement performance.
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