Laboratory of GD-OES - practical information
The size and the shape of a sample:
There must be a flat area on the sample, with a minimum diameter depending on the sealing o-ring of the spectral source (typically 13 mm). The actual analyzed spot is circular, with a diameter of 4mm (exceptionally 2.5 mm).
The sample must withstand the strain of the atmospheric pressure after the source has been pumped down. Thin sheets of metal must be e.g. glued onto a stiff support, to prevent their deformation by the atmospheric pressure.
Usually several repetitive measurements are performed of each sample, to verify their repeatability and estimate the uncertainties of the resulting concentrations. For depth profiling, this requires a larger sample, as the GD-OES analysis is destructive and depth-resolved analysis on a spot that has already been analyzed would be meaningless.
When planning experiments to be supported by the GD-OES analysis, it is reasonable to generate a series of samples differing by a parameter in the deposition process, etc., so that prospective changes in the sample composition related to that parameter can be tracked.
The sample must withstand the strain of the atmospheric pressure after the source has been pumped down. Thin sheets of metal must be e.g. glued onto a stiff support, to prevent their deformation by the atmospheric pressure.
Usually several repetitive measurements are performed of each sample, to verify their repeatability and estimate the uncertainties of the resulting concentrations. For depth profiling, this requires a larger sample, as the GD-OES analysis is destructive and depth-resolved analysis on a spot that has already been analyzed would be meaningless.
When planning experiments to be supported by the GD-OES analysis, it is reasonable to generate a series of samples differing by a parameter in the deposition process, etc., so that prospective changes in the sample composition related to that parameter can be tracked.
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