The Laser and Plasma Spectroscopy Group (GELP) from University of Oviedo in Spain (www.unioviedo.es/gelp) works in the development and characterization of plasma-based atomic spectroscopy techniques, including Solution Cathode Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (SC-GD-OES), Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GD-MS), Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). These techniques provide excellent analytical capabilities for the direct elemental characterization of innovative materials, and of geological / environmental / or biological samples. Therefore, this lecture will include a preliminary introduction to the activities of GELP in the field of GD-MS and LIBS, and a discussion on the development of novel methodology for multielemental mapping of challenging samples using LA-ICP-MS. In relation to LA-ICP-MS, significant research and advances continue to thrive for achieving the fastest, most accurate and efficient analysis, as those focused on improvements such as low dispersion setups and cell geometries for the finest control of aerosol trajectories. In this context, the combination of a femtosecond laser ablation unit with fast response and novel ICP-TOFMS technology provides one of the top-most interesting analytical methods for high spatial resolution determination -mapping- in samples of different matrices and nature. In the present work, the potential of this novel ICP-TOFMS is investigated for fast elemental mapping applications. Additionally, the option of configuring the attenuation of the ion signals at different levels in multi-segmented methods allows for the analysis of very highly abundant isotopes next to other low abundant/trace ones boosting the dynamic range of LA-ICP-MS at the low micrometric scale.

Prof. Dr. Jorge Pisonero Castro

Full professor of Physics at University of Oviedo, Spain

Co-leader of the Laser and Plasma Spectroscopy Group (www.unioviedo.es/gelp) of University of Oviedo, Spain 

Achievements / Awards

• Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (2005-2006).
• Top regional researcher program “Clarin”from Asturias, Spain (2007-2008).
• Top national researcher program “Ramon and Cajal”from Spanish government (2008-2012).
• Masao Horiba Award from Japan (2011).
• Novel Researcher Awars in Experimental Physics from RSEF (2011).
• Winter Conference Young Scientist Award in Plasma Spectrochemistry (2018).
• Editorials Boards of Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2009-2022).