Isotope analysis of 72GeH4, 73GeH4, 74GeH4, and 76GeH4 monogermanes by inductively-coupled plasma high-resolution mass spectrometry (ICP–MS)

Abstract

A possibility of using inductively-coupled plasma high-resolution mass spectrometry for the isotope analysis of monogermanes enriched with isotopes 72, 73, 74, and 76 has been studied. The effects of isobaric and polyatomic interferences in the spectrum of germanium isotopes have been discussed. It has been shown that the signal intensities of ⁱGeH⁺ ions formed in the inductively coupled plasma are 0.00001–0.0001 of the intensity of the ⁱGe⁺ signal. This can result in the overestimation of the found concentration of an isotope with a higher mass number next to the main isotope in recording spectra in the low and medium resolution mode. Approaches ensuring the determination of the isotope composition of highly-enriched monogermanes with the range of isotope concentrations extending five orders of magnitude have been proposed.