Radiofrequency powered glow discharges: opportunities and challenges. Plenary lecture

Abstract

The development of radiofrequency powered glow discharge (rf-GD) devices for application in direct solids elemental analysis has been underway for over five years. At this point in the evolution process from speculation to implementation, it is time to look at where the devices fit in the marketplace of potential end-users. The devices possess a number of basic advantages over more traditional solids analysis techniques; however, further implementation must be justified through the analysis of real-world samples and the ability to solve real-world problems. The basic analytical characteristics of the devices as applied in this laboratory are presented along with ‘demonstration’ spectra/data for a number of projected areas of commercial application. The projected areas include the analysis of bulk non-conductors (e.g., glasses and ceramics), oxide powders (e.g., geological materials, coal, catalysts, glasses and ceramics), layered materials (e.g., metals, coatings, optical materials and electronic devices) and polymers (e.g., bulk organics and metal-containing coatings and substrates). Some of the technical and analytical challenges posed by these specific sample types have been identified, with some methods of remediating deficiencies proposed and/or demonstrated. It is clear that the rf-GD has the capabilities to be a valuable problem-solving tool across a broad range of solids analysis applications, although much basic research and method development remains to be carried out.