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Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry¡]LA- ICP-MS¡^has been applied to the determination of V¡ACr¡ACu¡AZn¡ACd¡ATl and Pb in soil and sediment samples. The powder were pressed into a pellet for LA-ICP-MS analysis,Triron X-100 was used as the modifier to enhance the ion signals.The influences of instrument operating conditions ¡]laser ablation and ICP-MS¡^and pellet preparation on the ion signals were reported. For Cr determination, the ICP-MS was operated under the DRC mode which alleviated the mass overlap interference significantly. Standard addition method and isotope dilution method were used for the quantitation work. The powder sample was spiked with suitable amount of element standard and/or enriched isotope, well mixed, dried, well mixed and then pressed into a pellet for LA-ICP-MS analysis.This method has been applied to the determination of V¡ACr¡ACu¡AZn¡ACd¡ATl and Pb in NIST SRM 2709 San Joaquin soil reference materials and NIST SRM 2711 Montana soil reference materials. The analysis results were agreed with the certified values. The precision between sample replicates was better than 10% with LA-ICP-MS method. Detection limits estimated from standard addition curves were about 260-620,3-5,0.3-1 and 9-20 ng g-1 for Cr¡ACu¡AZn¡ACd¡ATl and Pb, respectively, in different samples.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-242). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

In this dissertation, I have investigated applying the laser ablation of microparticle aerosol (LAMA) process to the production of nanocomposite polymer membranes for olefin/paraffin separation. Experimental results for three major thrusts are presented: 1) an investigation into the scalability of the LAMA process, 2) a new laser ablation technique for nanoparticle production from aqueous feedstocks, and 3) characterization of olefin-selective polymer nanocomposite membranes produced using LAMA. The propensity for Ag nanoparticles to form agglomerates in LAMA is investigated. Nanoparticle samples were collected on TEM grids at several feedstock aerosol densities. As the density increased, the particle morphology shifted from single nanoparticles 5 nm in diameter to chained agglomerates of 20 nm diameter primary particles. The results are in agreement with a numerical model of Brownian agglomeration and diffusion. Factors influencing nanoparticle morphology, such as temperature, initial nanoparticle charge, and feedstock aerosol density are discussed. It is shown that agglomeration occurs on a much longer timescale than the other processes, and can be treated independently. A new nanoparticle synthesis technique is presented: laser ablation of aqueous aerosols. A Collison nebulizer is used to generate a mist of ~10 [mu]m diameter water droplets containing dissolved transition metal salts. Water from the droplets quickly evaporates, leaving solid particles which are ablated by an excimer laser. Ablation results in plasma breakdown and photothermal decomposition of the feedstock material. For AgNO₃ ablated in He gas, metallic Ag nanoparticles were produced. For Cu(NO₃)₂ ablated in He gas, crystalline Cu₂O nanoparticles were produced. For Ni(NO₃)₂ ablated in He gas, crystalline NiO nanoparticles were produced. A combination of AgNO₃ and Cu(NO₃)₂ ablated in a reducing atmosphere of 10%H₂/He yielded nonequilibrium Ag-Cu alloy nanoparticles. Membranes composed of poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) and Ag nanoparticles were produced by the LAMA process. Permeation and sorption measurements for the light olefins and paraffins were conducted for these membranes. The membranes showed very little improvement in olefin/paraffin selectivity compared with neat PEGDA membranes. Using the LAMA implementation described here, it was impossible to produce membranes with high Ag loading. Whether membranes containing more Ag would exhibit improved selectivity remains an open question. / text

We investigate the temperature and size distribution of Ag, Ge, CdSe and ZnS nanoparticles undergoing UV excimer laser pulses. A two laser pulse experiment is designed to monitor nanoparticle size before and after laser interaction. We study HRTEM images and measure the ablation and fluorescence spectra of particles before and after evaporation. Results show that the nanoparticle mean radius decreases from 3.4 ± 0.2 nm to 2.6 ± 0.2 nm, from 4.3 ± 0.1 nm to 3.5 ± 0.1 nm, and from 3.1 ± 0.2 nm to 2.6 ± 0.2 nm for Ag, Ge and CdSe, respectively. No ZnS nanoparticle size reduction was observed. Theoretical models for nanoparticles undergoing laser heating show that temperatures above the bulk and nanoparticle material melting point reduce the nanoparticles size by a factor of 0.3 and suggest recondensation before collection. For CdSe nanoparticles collected on dry substrates and solvents, blue shifted fluorescence (PL) peaks support the size reduction. / text

In this dissertation, I will look into the size distribution of silver nanoparticles produced by laser ablation of microparticles (LAM). I will investigate the role of both pulsed and continuously operating nozzles on the size distribution. In addition, I will examine any deviations from the previously observed log-normal size distribution for silver nanoparticles comparing previous collection techniques involving supersonic jet impaction with a current time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). These new observations will be made in situ using a Wiley-McLaren TOF-MS with a reflector and multiphoton ionization and will mainly focus on the smaller sized nanoparticles. An introduction to enhancing a second harmonic optically generated signal will also be investigated involving silver nanocomposites while utilizing a polarized crossed-beam femtosecond laser technique. / text

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy