Challenges in measuring nanoparticles and microparticles by single particle ICP-QMS and ICP-TOFMS: size-dependent transport efficiency and limited linear dynamic range†

While spICP-MS has been used mainly to measure nanoparticles, it can also be used to measure microparticles. The transport efficiency of nanoparticles is typically independent of their size. However, the transport efficiency of microparticles can be particle size (mass) dependent as well as being dependent on the sample uptake rate and sample introduction system used. To measure both nanoparticles and microparticles a very large linear dynamic range (where signal intensity is linearly proportional to the measured analyte(s) mass within a very short measurement time (∼300 to 500 µs, the width of signals produced by an individual particle)) is needed. Deviations from linearity could occur due to incomplete particle vaporization or from signals that are beyond the instrument's ion detection system linear dynamic range. To characterize and determine the cause of nonlinearity we measured sets of nearly monodisperse engineered SiO₂ particles with diameters from 500 to 5000 nm and Au particles with diameters from 60 to 1500 nm. We found that by reducing the sensitivity (up to a factor of 269×) the upper end of the linear dynamic range, in particle size that produced signal intensities that were linearly proportional to the particle (analyte) mass, could be greatly extended. Not surprisingly, reducing the sensitivity increased the minimum size detectable particle. The results are consistent with SiO₂ particles as large as 5000 nm being completely vaporized in the ICP.