Analytical Instrumentation

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

A type of atomic emission spectroscopy that uses a highly energetic laser pulse as the excitation source.

Tungsten-Halogen Lamp

A spectroscopic light source also referred to as a halogen lamp, quartz-halogen lamp, or quartz iodine lamp.

Charge Injection Device (CID)

A metal-oxide-semiconductor ($\text{MOS}$) detector, which includes complementary ($\text{CMOS}$), N-type ($\text{NMOS}$), and P-type ($\text{PMOS}$) devices.

Infrared (IR) Absorption Spectroscopy

A spectroscopic method utilizing sources such as a Globar ($\text{SiC}$), nichrome, Hg-arc lamp, or halogen lamp, an interferometer discriminator, and detectors such as pyroelectric, photoconductive, photovoltaic, bolometer, or pneumatic cells.

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR)

A sample introduction technique in infrared spectroscopy used for solid samples, solutions, and neat liquids.

Golay Cell

An alternative name for a pneumatic cell used as a detector in infrared absorption spectroscopy.

Pyroelectric Detector

A class of infrared detectors whose examples include deuterated triglycine sulfate ($\text{DTGS}$) and lithium tantalate ($\text{LiTaO}_3$/$\text{LTO}$).

Photoconductive Detector

A type of infrared detector that includes mercury-cadmium-telluride ($\text{HgCdTe}$), lead sulfide ($\text{PbS}$), and lead selenide ($\text{PbSe}$).

Photovoltaic Detector

An infrared radiation detector category exemplified by indium arsenide ($\text{InAs}$) and indium antimonide ($\text{InSb}$).

Raman Scattering

An instrumental method that uses a laser source, cuvettes for solutions or solids, discriminators such as a double monochromator, optical spectrometer, optical filter, or interferometer, and detectors such as CCD, CID, PMT, or PDA.

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)

Also called photon correlation spectroscopy ($\text{PCS}$); an optical method utilizing a laser source, a cuvette or well plate for solutions, a polarizer discriminator, and a PMT or photodiode detector.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

An instrumental technique using a radiofrequency ($\text{RF}$) generator, glass tubes for solutions with deuterated solvent, neat liquids, or solids, a magnetic field discriminator, and an $\text{RF}$ receiver detector.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

Also called electron spin resonance ($\text{ESR}$); an instrumental method employing a microwave generator (Gunn diode), quartz tubes for frozen solutions or solids, a magnetic field discriminator, and a detector diode.

Mössbauer Spectroscopy

An instrumental method utilizing gamma rays from radioactive nuclei (such as $^{57}\text{Co}$ and $^{119}\text{Sn}$), a transparent chamber holding thin solid powder, a collimator discriminator, and a scintillation counter or semiconductor-based detector.

Circular Dichroism (CD)

A spectroscopic method utilizing a Xe-arc lamp source, cuvettes for solutions, a discriminator system consisting of a monochromator, linear polarizer, and photoelastic modulator, and PMT, photoconductive, or photodiode detectors.

Potentiometry

An electrochemical method consisting of a reference electrode source, an ion selective electrode membrane discriminator for solutions, and a potentiometer (voltmeter) detector.

Voltammetry

An electrochemical technique using a power supply source, a working electrode and electrochemical cell with supporting electrolyte, a potentiostat and reference electrode discriminator, and a counter (auxiliary) electrode detector.

Coulometry

An electrochemical method using a power supply source, platinum mesh electrode for solutions, a potentiostat or galvanostat with a reference electrode discriminator, and an ammeter detector.

Polarography

An electrochemical method utilizing a power supply, a liquid metal electrode in an electrochemical cell with supporting electrolyte, a potentiostat and reference electrode discriminator, and a counter (auxiliary) electrode detector.

Sector Field Mass Analyzer

A mass spectrometry discriminator based on static magnetic ($B$), static electric ($E$), or double-focusing ($BE$ or $EB$) fields.

Multipole Ion Guide

A mass analyzer component utilized for ion transmission and discrimination, with varieties including quadrupole, hexapole, and octupole.

Accelerating Potential Mass Analyzers

A category of mass spectrometers that includes Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance ($\text{FTICR}$) and Orbitrap instruments.

Gas Chromatography (GC)

A separation technique utilizing pressurized gas cylinders ($\text{He}$, $\text{N}_2$, $\text{Ar}$, $\text{H}_2$) with a regulator, a syringe (split/splitless injector) or SPME, a column and oven discriminator, and detectors such as FID, TCD, ECD, or MS.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

A chromatographic method using solvent reservoirs and a high-pressure pump, a rotary injection valve with sample loop, a column (and guard column) discriminator, and detectors like UV-vis/VWD, RID, FLD, CAD, ECD, ELSD, or MS.

Ion Chromatography (IC)

A liquid chromatography method using solvent reservoirs, a high-pressure pump, a rotary injection valve with sample loop, an ion-exchange resin column, and a suppressor column with an ECD, UV-vis/VWD, or MS detector.

Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)

An instrumental separation technique using buffer reservoirs, pressure or electroosmotic flow injection, a column and high electric field discriminator, and UV-vis, FLD, conductivity, or MS detection.

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC)

A chromatographic technique using a pressurized $\text{CO}_2$ gas cylinder, solvent reservoirs (such as ethane, n-butane, nitrous oxide, diethyl ether, or THF), a high-pressure pump, a rotary injection valve, an HPLC-like column, and detectors such as FID, UV-vis, or MS.

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)

An elemental analysis method using an X-ray tube ($\text{Al } K\alpha$ or $\text{Mg } K\alpha$), a sample surface in a vacuum chamber, an electron energy analyzer discriminator, and an MCP or electron multiplier detector.

Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES)

An elemental analysis method employing an electron gun (tungsten or $\text{LaB}_6$-tipped filament), a sample surface in a vacuum chamber, an electron energy analyzer discriminator, and an MCP or electron multiplier detector.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS)

An analytical surface technique using an ion gun source on a sample in a vacuum chamber, a sector, quadrupole, or TOF mass analyzer discriminator, and detectors such as MCP, electron multiplier, Faraday cup, CCD, or fluorescent screen.

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

An elemental analysis method using an X-ray tube (e.g., $\text{Cu } K\alpha$), a goniometer for single crystals or powders, a monochromator discriminator, and a scintillation counter, hybrid pixel detector, gas-filled detector, CCD, or photographic film.

Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS or EDX)

An elemental analysis method using an electron gun or X-ray tube on a solid in a vacuum chamber, a Rowland circle and diffraction crystal discriminator, and a silicon drift detector ($\text{SDD}$) or $\text{Si(Li)}$ detector.

Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS)

An instrumental method using an electron gun source, a thin solid in a vacuum chamber, a magnetic field discriminator, and a CCD detector.

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

An elemental analysis method employing an X-ray tube source on a sample surface, a collimator, monochromator, or Rowland circle discriminator, and detectors such as solid-state detectors (PIN diode, $\text{Si(Li)}$, $\text{Ge(Li)}$, $\text{SDD}$), gas-filled detectors, scintillation counters, or PMTs.

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

A surface analysis method using an electron gun, a thin solid on a metal mesh grid ($\text{Cu}$, $\text{Mo}$, $\text{Au}$, $\text{Pt}$) in a vacuum chamber, a magnetic field and objective lens system discriminator, and a CCD, CID, fluorescent screen, or photographic film detector.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

A microscopy method using an electron gun source, a conductive solid surface on an XYZ stage in a vacuum chamber, a magnetic field and objective lens system discriminator, and an Everhart-Thornley detector.

Everhart-Thornley Detector

The primary detector used in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface imaging.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM)

A surface analysis technique using a power supply, a surface on an XYZ stage, a piezoelectrically controlled tip discriminator, and an ammeter detector.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

A surface analysis technique that uses a laser source, a surface on an XYZ stage, a cantilever and tip discriminator, and a photodiode detector.

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

A thermal analysis method using a power supply, an aluminum, platinum, or stainless steel pan in a controlled atmosphere, a furnace discriminator, and a thermobalance detector.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

A thermal analysis method using a power supply, metal or ceramic sample and reference pans in a controlled atmosphere, a furnace discriminator, and thermocouple detectors.

Inductively-Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES / ICP-OES)

An atomic emission method using an inductively coupled plasma source, a nebulizer-spray chamber for solutions, a monochromator or polychromator discriminator, and a CCD, CID, PMT, or PDA detector.