Grazing-exit electron probe x-ray microanalysis of light elements in particles

摘要

Artificial and atmospheric aerosol particles consisting of light elements were analyzed by grazing-exit electron probe x-ray microanalysis with an ultra-thin window energy-dispersive x-ray detector. It is shown that it is possible to observe the surface layer of the particle without any influence of the x-rays emitted from the core of the particle. Such an approach helps to solve the problem of overlapping x-ray lines originating from the surface and core of the particle and from the substrate. However, the present experimental setup was only suitable for performing qualitative localized analysis of a single particle. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.