Slurry nebulization in plasmas for analysis of advanced ceramic materials

Abstract

Slurry nebulization in plasmas has advantages of simplicity, high speed, low cost, minimized analyte loss, and low risk of sample contamination, but it has not been very widely adopted. However, the study of advanced ceramic materials has recently renewed enthusiasm for this technique. In this paper, the current state of research on slurry nebulization in plasmas for the analysis of advanced materials is thoroughly surveyed. Sample preparation, sample characterization, and modifications of the instrumentation necessary for slurry nebulization are reviewed, along with calibration procedures and studies on fundamental issues. Finally, the applications of this method to a variety of advanced materials are summarized, and the outlook for this method is discussed.