Analytical Control of Functional Materials Based on Rare-Earth Metals Using Mass Spectrometry Methods

Rare-earth metals and compounds on their basis are in demand for the development and production of functional materials, such as optical ceramics, permanent magnets, phosphors, catalysts, glasses, alloys, etc. Unique physical and chemical properties of these materials largely depend on their elemental composition (panoramic and target), which must be controlled at all stages of production, from the initial compounds to intermediate and final products. Mass spectrometry with various ionization sources (inductively coupled plasma, vacuum spark discharge, glow discharge, laser source, secondary ion source) and sample introduction systems (solutions’ spraying, laser sampling, electrothermal evaporation) is one of the most promising and in-demand methods for determining target elements with high sensitivity in materials of complex composition. There are a number of other advantages offered by this method, namely the selectivity of the signal from the elements being determined, a possibility of conducting multi-element analyses, and the accuracy of the analysis results. However, materials of complex composition, including those containing rare-earth metals as main elements, require studying the influence of analysis conditions and other factors in order to obtain reliable results and to develop analytical procedures. The article provides a review of publications containing methodological solutions and approaches to overcome the limitations of mass spectrometry with various ionization sources in relation to the analysis of rare-earth metals and functional materials based on them. The review includes Russian and foreign publications from 2014 to 2023.