This project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The principal investigator will study desorption of materials from heated surfaces and high temperature surface reactions by means of atmospheric pressure-temperature programmed desorption and temperature programmed static secondary ion mass spectrometry. This research will aid in understanding fundamental aspects of electrothermal atomization on graphite surfaces used in atomic absortion spectroscopy. This technique is widely used for the analysis of extremely low levels of metal impurities.
