Hi everyone,
we currently synthesize some Si/Fe2O3 core/shell nanoparticle and we would like to analyze Si to Fe2O3 ratio. Although ICP-MS is a great tool to use, we have a hard time to dissolve both Si and Fe2O3 in the same solution as HF is not allowed to introduce to our ICP-MS system. I would like to ask is there any other possible solution that we can dissolve SI and Fe2O3 without using HF. Or is there any other method that we can quantify Si to Fe2O3 ratio.
Thank you so much.
You can use sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) or borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O) as flux to attack and melt the sample by approx. 745 ºC. The afterwards cooled slag can be dissolved with conc. aq. HCl; heating only if that is judged necessary to complete reactive dissolution. HCl should react with excess Na2B4O7, accordingly: Na2B4O7 + 2 HCl + 5H2O → 4 H3BO3 + 2 NaCl.
Thank you so much Carlos for the valuable information. However, Si and Fe2O3 will go through thermite reaction around 600 C, and I will search another route to detect our element.
Perkin Elmer has a software application for ICP-MS to analyze content and size of dispersed nanoparticles in solution - syngistix, it worked for Au, Pt and Fe nanoparticles for us. For Si you may need to do method development to ionize it from nanoparticle.
http://www.perkinelmer.com/product/syngistix-for-icp-ms-nano-v-2-1-n8150319?searchTerm=syngistix&pushBackUrl=?searchName=syngistix
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