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CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO

CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO

SIMS for geological samples

The CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO is a SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) system for geological samples, for measuring stable isotopes, REE (Rare Earth Elements), trace elements and more. It’s also suitable for material science and environmental research.

Pseudo Bi-Collection

The IMS 7f-GEO is a mono-collection SIMS system with pseudo bi-collection mode:

  • Faster acquisition
  • Higher throughput
  • Increased precision
  • Sub-permil precision for stable isotope ratio measurements

The analytical performance is demonstrated in the example to the right: 18O/16O isotope ratio analysis in synthetic quartz.

Using a standard system, the measurement time for statistical precision better than 0.4 permil could be could be >3000 sec. This is significantly reduced down to 56 sec using the pseudo bi-collection mode.

This configuration uses a double Faraday cup detector system, electron multiplier and a fast mass peak switching system, which is as fast as 0.3 sec at high mass resolving power.

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CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO

SIMS Example - Synthetic Quartz

18O/16O isotope ratio analysis in synthetic quartz

Applications

  • Geology:
  • Materials science
  • Environmental studies

Benefits

  • In-situ analysis of any solid, flat polished surface
  • Elemental and isotopic information
  • Fast measurements with pseudo bi-collection mode
  • Dynamic SIMS mode – more info
  • High throughput
  • High precision

Example: Rare Earth Element Analysis

The CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO is ideal for Rare Earth Element Analysis in mineral samples.

This is typically a challenging application, because of molecular interference caused by extremely close masses that can’t be separated using standard high mass resolution conditions.

To deal with this interference, the IMS 7f-GEO uses energy filters on the secondary ions and a tightly-controlled energy bandwidth. The energy distribution is narrower for polyatomic species than monoatomic species. By moving the energy slit off-axis or by applying an offset to the sample voltage, mono-atomic ions can be separated from isobaric cluster ions.

For measuring trace elements, a high-brightness oxygen source gives you the sensitivity necessary for µm-scale elemental data.

Rare Earth Element Analysis

Rare Earth Element analysis of Allende meteorite and terrestrial Antigorite at ppm level.

Example: Radiation Protection

The CAMECA IMS 7f-GEO SIMS system can map major and trace species at cellular level in biological samples, with a lateral resolution reaching ~0.5 μm. This can be used investigate uranium diffusion through the skin in radiation protection.

IRSN (Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety) in France used SIMS to characterise uranium bioaccumulation. Their research lead to a patent and the development of a decontamination cream. An active ingredient in the cream, carboxylic acid calixarene, has a high affinity for U, Pu, Am, Th, Co, Cs and Sr, prohibiting the penetration of radionuclides into the body.

Major and trace species were mapped at cellular level using the using the IMS 7f-GEO, with a lateral resolution of around 0.5 μm.

SIMS is widely recognised as the most sensitive elemental and isotopic surface analysis technique. This sensitivity achieves low detection limits for elements of interest, including heavy metals like uranium.

The IMS 7f-GEO is also high throughput and highly versatile system, delivering mass spectra, depth profiling analysis and more.

Mapping Unranium diffusion on skin

A & B: Structural representation of skin, 40Ca+, field of view 200 x 200 µm2 (A) and 100 x 100 µm2 (B).
C & D: Superimposed ion images of 238U+ (red) and 40Ca+ (green).

Courtesy of David Suhard, IMS 7f laboratory in IRSN Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.

This research is featured in:

  • A. Spagnul et al, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics 79(2), 258–267 (2011), DOI 10.1016/j.ejpb.2011.05.004
  • S. Grives et al, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 104(6), 2008-2017 (2015). DOI 10.1002/jps.24431