Direct sector field ICP-MS determination of metal impurities in detonation nanodiamond

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 60; pp. 326 - 334
• Main Authors: Mitev, Dimitar P., Townsend, Ashley T., Paull, Brett, Nesterenko, Pavel N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acceptability; Carbon; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Detonation; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Impurities; Inductively coupled plasma; Mass spectrometers; Materials science; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Physics; Specific materials; Spectra; Impurities; Detonation nanodiamond
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2013.04.045

A simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate method for the determination of metal impurities in detonation nanodiamond (DND), based upon the direct aspiration of aqueous suspensions of nanodiamond into a sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is proposed. Quantitative release, atomisation and ionisation of the nanodiamond coated and encased elements, within the plasma, and their detection free from spectral interference, was confirmed by comparing results obtained from the direct ICP-MS analysis of aqueous suspensions with results from the ICP-MS analysis of the acidic digests of pre-ashed DND, obtained through DND combustion in air at 723K for 48h. The developed direct method was capable of the quantification of more than 30 elements at concentration levels of 10−8wt.%, with acceptable levels of precision and accuracy, from an aqueous suspension of just 0.1mgmL−1 DND.