Laser ablation-ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) has become an increasingly popular tool for imaging due to its ability to provide spatially resolved elemental information at low concentrations. Many aspects need to be considered when setting up an LA-ICP-MS system for imaging. Laser scanning speed, stage accuracy and precision, efficient particle delivery to the ICP-MS (i.e. ablation cell washout), and data acquisition speed, to name a few, are critical to obtaining high-quality LA images. Many of these parameters are adjustable and they must be set to satisfy the user’s requirements.
PerkinElmer’s NexION® ICP-MS systems provide extremely fast dwell times and unparalleled short settling times, ideal for fast-response laser ablation imaging applications.