Last data update: Sep 16, 2024. (Total: 47680 publications since 2009)
Records 1-7 (of 7 Records) |
Query Trace: Diwakar P [original query] |
---|
Spatial and temporal dynamics of a pulsed spark microplasma used for aerosol analysis
Zheng L , Kulkarni P , Diwakar P . Spectrochim Acta Part B At Spectrosc 2018 144 55-62 The spatial and temporal dynamics of a pulsed, electrical spark microplasma used for spectrochemical analysis of aerosols was investigated. The spark discharge was generated by applying a high voltage pulse between a coaxial anode and cathode. Aerosol particles of black carbon were collected on the cathode for 2 min, following which the pulsed microplasma was introduced, leading to ablation and atomization of the collected particles. The space- and time-resolved emission spectra showed that the atomic emission signal from the carbon species originated from the region close to the cathode surface during the early evolution of the microplasma. The C I and C II atomic emission reached peak intensities at 11 and 6 μs delay time, respectively. Peak emission intensities occurred between 0.5–1.3 mm above the cathode surface. The average excitation temperature and the electron number density of the spark microplasma were estimated to be 23,000 K, and 1.6 × 1017 cm−3, respectively. The effects of pulse energy on the excitation temperature and electron density were also investigated. The results provide insights into the dynamics of the pulsed spark microplasma and are helpful in optimizing elemental analysis of aerosols using this technique. |
Characterization of an aerosol microconcentrator for analysis using microscale optical spectroscopies
Zheng L , Kulkarni P , Zavvos K , Liang H , Birch ME , Dionysiou DD . J Aerosol Sci 2017 104 66-78 Efficient microconcentration of aerosols to a substrate is essential for effectively coupling the collected particles to microscale optical spectroscopies such as laser-induced or spark microplasma, or micro-Raman or infrared spectroscopies. In this study, we present detailed characterization of a corona-based aerosol microconcentration technique developed previously (Diwakar & Kulkarni, 2012). The method involves two coaxial electrodes separated by a few millimeters, one held at a high electrical potential and the other grounded. The particles are collected on the collection (i.e., ground) electrode from a coaxial aerosol flow in a one-step charge-and-collect scheme using corona discharge and electrical precipitation between the two electrodes. Performance of the corona microconcentration method was determined experimentally by measuring collection efficiency, wall losses, and particle deposition density. An intrinsic spectroscopic sensitivity was experimentally determined for the aerosol microconcentrator. Using this sensitivity, we show that corona-based microconcentration is much superior to alternative methods, including filtration, focused impaction using aerodynamic lens, and spot collection using condensational growth. The method offers unique advantages for compact, hand-held aerosol analytical instrumentation. |
The influence of laser pulse duration and energy on ICP-MS signal intensity, elemental fractionation, and particle size distribution in NIR fs-LA-ICP-MS
Diwakar PK , Harilal SS , LaHaye NL , Hassanein A , Kulkarni P . J Anal At Spectrom 2013 28 (9) 1420-1429 Laser parameters, typically wavelength, pulse width, irradiance, repetition rate, and pulse energy, are critical parameters which influence the laser ablation process and thereby influence the LA-ICP-MS signal. In recent times, femtosecond laser ablation has gained popularity owing to the reduction in fractionation related issues and improved analytical performance which can provide matrix-independent sampling. The advantage offered by fs-LA is due to shorter pulse duration of the laser as compared to the phonon relaxation time and heat diffusion time. Hence the thermal effects are minimized in fs-LA. Recently, fs-LA-ICP-MS demonstrated improved analytical performance as compared to ns-LA-ICP-MS, but detailed mechanisms and processes are still not clearly understood. Improvement of fs-LA-ICP-MS over ns-LA-ICP-MS elucidates the importance of laser pulse duration and related effects on the ablation process. In this study, we have investigated the influence of laser pulse width (40 fs to 0.3 ns) and energy on LA-ICP-MS signal intensity and repeatability using a brass sample. Experiments were performed in single spot ablation mode as well as rastering ablation mode to monitor the Cu/Zn ratio. The recorded ICP-MS signal was correlated with total particle counts generated during laser ablation as well as particle size distribution. Our results show the importance of pulse width effects in the fs regime that becomes more pronounced when moving from femtosecond to picosecond and nanosecond regimes. |
The effect of ultrafast laser wavelength on ablation properties and implications on sample introduction in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
LaHaye NL , Harilal SS , Diwakar PK , Hassanein A , Kulkarni P . J Appl Phys 2013 114 (2) 023103 (10 pp.) We investigated the role of femtosecond (fs) laser wavelength on laser ablation (LA) and its relation to laser generated aerosol counts and particle distribution, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) signal intensity, detection limits, and elemental fractionation. Four different NIST standard reference materials (610, 613, 615, and 616) were ablated using 400 nm and 800 nm fs laser pulses to study the effect of wavelength on laser ablation rate, accuracy, precision, and fractionation. Our results show that the detection limits are lower for 400 nm laser excitation than 800 nm laser excitation at lower laser energies but approximately equal at higher energies. Ablation threshold was also found to be lower for 400 nm than 800 nm laser excitation. Particle size distributions are very similar for 400 nm and 800 nm wavelengths; however, they differ significantly in counts at similar laser fluence levels. This study concludes that 400 nm LA is more beneficial for sample introduction in ICP-MS, particularly when lower laser energies are to be used for ablation. |
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for analysis of micro and nanoparticles
Diwakar PK , Loper KH , Matiaske AM , Hahn DW . J Anal At Spectrom 2012 27 (7) 1110-1119 The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for analysis of micro-and nanoparticles is explored, including a brief review of the recent research, both fundamentals and applications, along with new experimental work regarding aerosol particle sampling statistics, analysis of laser ablation particles via aerosol LIBS for matrix effect minimization for bulk solids analysis, and a novel aerosol particle concentration scheme that is suited for near real-time analysis of aerosol nanoparticles. The statistical analysis reveals that the LIBS particle sampling physics are well modeled using Poisson sampling statistics, as based on analysis of calcium-rich ambient air particles. The laser-ablation LIBS (LA-LIBS) methodology was explored for a range of disparate metallic and non-metallic bulk samples, revealing a linear calibration curve for all six samples over the range of relative Mn/Fe mass concentrations. Finally, the microneedle concentration technique for aerosol nanoparticle analysis was successfully demonstrated with linear mass calibration curves for copper-rich nanoparticles. Overall, a fundamental understanding of the plasma-particle physics has enabled the formulation of robust LIBS-based nanoparticle schemes. |
Measurement of elemental concentration of aerosols using spark emission spectroscopy
Diwakar PK , Kulkarni P . J Anal At Spectrom 2012 27 (7) 1101-1109 A coaxial microelectrode system has been used to collect and analyse the elemental composition of aerosol particles in near real-time using spark emission spectroscopy. The technique involves focused electrostatic deposition of charged aerosol particles onto the flat tip of a microelectrode, followed by introduction of spark discharge. A pulsed spark discharge was generated across the electrodes with input energy ranging from 50 to 300 mJ per pulse, resulting in the formation of controlled pulsed plasma. The particulate matter on the cathode tip is ablated and atomized by the spark plasma, resulting in atomic emissions which are subsequently recorded using a broadband optical spectrometer for element identification and quantification. The plasma characteristics were found to be very consistent and reproducible even after several thousands of spark discharges using the same electrode system. The spark plasma was characterized by measuring the excitation temperature (~7000 to 10,000 K), electron density (~10(16)cm-3), and evolution of spectral responses as a function of time. The system was calibrated using particles containing Pb, Si, Na and Cr. Absolute mass detection limits in the range 11 pg to 1.75 ng were obtained. Repeatability of spectral measurements varied from 2 to 15%. The technique offers key advantages over similar microplasma-based techniques such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, as: (i) it does not require any laser beam optics and eliminates any need for beam alignment, (ii) pulse energy from dc power supply in SIBS system can be much higher compared to that from laser source of the same physical size, and (iii) it is quite conducive to compact, field-portable instrumentation. |
New approach for near-real-time measurement of elemental composition of aerosol using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Diwakar P , Kulkarni P , Birch ME . Aerosol Sci Technol 2012 46 (3) 316-332 A new approach has been developed for making near-real-time measurement of elemental composition of aerosols using plasma spectroscopy. The method allows preconcentration of miniscule particle mass (pg to ng) directly from the sampled aerosol stream through electrostatic deposition of charged particles (30-900 nm) onto a flat-tip microneedle electrode. The collected material is subsequently ablated from the electrode and monitored by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Atomic emission spectra were collected using a broadband spectrometer with a wavelength range of 200-980 nm. A single-sensor delay time of 1.3 mcs was used in the spectrometer for all elements to allow simultaneous measurement of multiple elements. The system was calibrated for various elements including Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Na, and Ti. The absolute mass detection limits for these elements were experimentally determined and found to be in the range of 0.018-5 ng. The electrostatic collection technique has many advantages over other substrate-based methods involving aerosol collection on a filter or its focused deposition using an aerodynamic lens. Because the particle mass is collected over a very small area that is smaller than the spatial extent of the laser-induced plasma, the entire mass is available for analysis. This considerably improves reliability of the calibration and enhances measurement accuracy and precision. Further, the aerosol collection technique involves very low pressure drop, thereby allowing higher sample flow rates with much smaller pumps-a desirable feature for portable instrumentation. Higher flow rates also make it feasible to measure trace element concentrations at part per trillion levels. Detection limits in the range of 18-670 ng m(-3) can be achieved for most of the elements studied at a flow rate of 1.5 L min(-1) with sampling times of 5 min. |
- Page last reviewed:Feb 1, 2024
- Page last updated:Sep 16, 2024
- Content source:
- Powered by CDC PHGKB Infrastructure