Glow Discharge Emission Spectrometry

Ferreira N. P., Strauss J. A. and Human H. G. C. (1983) Developments in glow discharge emission spectrometry, Spectrochim Acta, Part B 38 899-911. 

Depth-profile analysis is also possible, as the sample is ablated layer-by-layer with a penetration rate of 1 - 3 pm/min. Here, the intensities of the analyte lines are measured as a function of time. However, the sputtering rates of alloys with varying composition must be known to convert the time scale into a depth scale. The intensities must be related to concentrations, which can be done by using theoretical models and sputtering constants [291]. The power of detection may be quite good and depth resolution is of the order of 5 nm, when elemental concentrations >0.1% are monitored. Depth profile analysis is now a main field of application of glow discharge emission spectrometry in the metals industry (Fig. 42) [291]. 

Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis Glow discharge mass spectrometry Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy Ion (excited) Auger electron spectroscopy Ion beam spectrochemical analysis... 

Neutron Activation Analysis X-Ray Fluorescence Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission Particle-Induced Nuclear Reaction Analysis Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry Spark Source Mass Spectrometry Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry Electron Microprobe Analysis Laser Microprobe Analysis Secondary Ion Mass Analysis Micro-PIXE... 

As the sample volatilization is due to cathodic sputtering only, matrix interferences as a result of the thermochemical properties of the elements do not occur. This has been shown impressively in early comparative studies of glow discharge atomic spectrometry and spark emission spectrometry with aluminum samples (Fig. 107) [480]. It must be stated, however, that with advanced sparks, where through the use of fiber optics only those parts of the spark plasma are observed that are not involved in sample ablation, matrix interferences in the case of spark emission spectrometry are also lower. The analysis of similar alloys with different metallographic structures by glow discharge atomic spectrometry can often be carried out with one calibration. 

GDMS (glow discharge mass spectrometry) is a similar technique to GDOES but GDMS uses a mass spectrometer instead of an optical emission spectrometer. 

Faahan-Smith,T., and Woodford, D. (1995).The relative merits of the analysis of high purity gold by glow discharge mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Precious Met., p. 205. 

R. Payling, D. Jones, A. Bengtson (eds.J Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester 1997. 

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