Evaluation of a Galvo-Based Novel fs-LA-ICP-MS/MS Platform for High-Precision Elemental Analysis with Flexible Large Spots

Abstract

Conventional femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA) systems offer low thermal effects but are historically constrained by small spot sizes and depth-dependent fractionation, limiting their sensitivity for ultra-trace analysis and bulk representativeness. In this work, we evaluate a novel galvanometer-scanning fs-LA system coupled with a triple-quadrupole ICP-MS/MS to overcome these limitations. We introduced an empirical Ablation Efficiency Factor (R) to systematically optimize complex scanning parameters—including Divider, Scan (Mark) Speed, and Jump Speed, etc.—establishing three distinct ablation protocols: Galvo Pulse, Continuous, and Line Scan modes. A key methodological advancement involves the synergy between unconstrained large ablation-area (up to 500 μm) and the Electronic Dilution capability of the ICP-MS/MS. For NIST 614, BIR-1G and iron meteorites, the combination of a larger ablation-area and the extended dynamic range of the ICP-MS enabled analytical errors for ~10 ppb concentrations to be constrained within ±20%. This study demonstrates that the galvanometer-based fs-LA-ICP-MS/MS platform substantially expands the dynamic range of in situ analysis and, to some extent, delivers trace-element detection capability comparable to that of SF-ICP-MS, while maintaining accurate quantification of elements spanning several orders of magnitude in concentration.