New Technology for Large Samples in Chemical Analysis with LA-ICP-MS

The ERC ‘Proof of Concept’ project BEAST (Breaking sample size limitations for laser ablation through novel large cell technology) utilises a technological breakthrough achieved by Prof. Dr Pascal Bohleber of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), as part of an ERC Consolidator Grant entitled “AiCE”: For decades, the restriction of sample chambers to approximately 10 cm in length has represented a fundamental barrier in chemical analysis using laser ablation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Previously, it was considered a major technical hurdle to maintain the fast aerosol transfer and stage precision required for high-resolution 2D mapping in larger volumes. AiCE has taken this hurdle with the world’s first prototype of a cryogenic large sample chamber, developed in partnership with Teledyne Photon Machines. This innovation enables the analysis of samples over 30 cm in length with a precision and speed previously only achievable in small commercial high-performance cells. This forms the foundation for high sample throughput strictly necessary for current analyses of the “Oldest Ice” from Antarctica within the European flagship project „Beyond EPICA: Oldest Ice Core“. 

“A decisive added benefit of the new chamber size, in addition to high sample throughput, is its flexibility and multimodality,” explains Pascal Bohleber. “It offers sufficient space to directly couple external sensors such as Raman spectroscopy or optical profilometers via an integrated window. This allows researchers to capture diverse chemical and physical information about a sample simultaneously in a single workflow, without needing to move the sample between instruments.” This massive time saving is highly attractive not only for science but also for industrial applications. For industry, this represents a leap in efficiency: instead of tedious individual sample exchanges, hundreds of samples can be analyzed in a single run. In academic applications, precious large-scale scientific samples, such as stalagmites or archaeological artifacts, no longer need to be destroyed or cut into pieces.

Pascal Bohleber is continuing to develop the method as part of the BEAST project in close partnership with Teledyne Photon Machines, a market leader in laser ablation systems. The project aims to make the technology accessible for broad use through design optimization and a new demonstration laboratory at AWI. BEAST thus creates a new standard tool for LA-ICP-MS analysis and serves as a catalyst for future hybrid analytical systems, enabling more sustainable quality control in key industries such as steel or semiconductor production.