Microextraction-Single Particle-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry for the Direct Analysis of Nanoparticles...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is crucial for nanoparticle analysis.
• Direct surface sampling and analysis of nanoparticles remain challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a microextraction (ME) probe for direct SP-ICP-MS analysis of nanoparticles from surfaces.
• To compare the performance of a novel polyether ether ketone (PEEK) probe head with a commercial one.

Main Methods:

• Development of a microextraction probe for direct sampling of nanoparticles from surfaces.
• Investigation of parameters affecting ME-SP-ICP-MS performance: flow rate, carrier solution, particle size, and probe head design.
• Comparison of extraction efficiency (EE) between a commercial probe and a newly designed SP PEEK probe head.

Main Results:

• The optimized ME-SP-ICP-MS technique demonstrated extraction efficiencies of 4-10%.
• The novel SP PEEK probe head achieved higher EE (8.5 ± 3%) compared to the commercial probe (3.9 ± 3%).
• Accurate sizing of gold nanoparticles (30-51 nm) and iron-based microparticles (1000 nm) was achieved.

Conclusions:

• ME-SP-ICP-MS offers a promising method for direct, spatially resolved analysis of nanoparticles on various collection surfaces.
• The developed SP PEEK probe head enhances nanoparticle extraction efficiency.
• This technique facilitates direct particle analysis, retaining spatial distribution information.