What Techniques are Used for Elemental Composition Analysis?
Several advanced techniques are used to analyze the elemental composition of catalysts, including:
- X-ray Fluorescence (XRF): This non-destructive technique detects the presence of elements by measuring the characteristic secondary X-rays emitted from a material when it is excited by a primary X-ray source. - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): A powerful technique that ionizes the sample with an inductively coupled plasma and then uses a mass spectrometer to detect and quantify the elements. - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS or EDX): Often coupled with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this technique provides elemental identification and quantitative compositional information. - Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS): This method measures the absorption of light by free atoms in the gaseous state to determine the concentration of specific elements. - X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS): Also known as Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), XPS not only provides elemental composition but also information on the chemical state of the elements.
