Abstract
(English)
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The overall aim of the Network was to assist in the further development of analytical methods using Glow Discharge (GD) sources both with Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) and with Mass Spectrometry (MS), including an extension to their range of applications. 19 'Partners' were full members of the Network and there were a further 16 'Associate Partners'. These participants included industrial and contract laboratories carrying out routine analysis and research groups in universities and research institutions. There have been 8 'Expert Meetings' and three meetings for all participants and these proved to be a very important part of the Network activities.
The activities of the Network were arranged as four Working Groups: A - Standard procedures and reference materials, B - Development of methods and instrumentation, C - Study of glow discharge mechanisms, D - Transfer of technology and know-how). EMPA was involved in sub-tasks on pre-normative work for the establishment of standard methods for analysis of Plasma Vapour Deposition (PVD) and other coatings, on the definition of specifications for CRM´s needed for specific surface analytical applications, on method development for rf-sources in quantitative bulk analysis of non-conducting samples, and on the analysis of environmental samples.
It has been a major success of the Network that it has fostered closer links and understanding amongst the disparate participants, e.g. between those using OES and those using MS, between research groups and industrial users and between those studying the fundamental properties of the sources (including modelling groups) and those dealing with analytical applications. These closer links have become increasingly obvious both in the formal presentations at Network meetings and the informal discussions.
The Network did not provide any funding for research activities, except for the preparation of Round Robin exercises and the analysis of the results. Nevertheless the existence of the Network has stimulated collaboration in the research activities of the participants. One example of this concerned the problems associated with the presence of molecular gases, particularly hydrogen, in the plasma gas; this topic was not mentioned in the Technical Annex, but has assumed a greater practical significance subsequent to the submission of the Network proposal. It has been discussed at all the more recent meetings, and many of the Network Partners have published relevant work either individually or collaboratively, covering experimental results, theoretical background and analytical applications. This work is ongoing, as is the more recent related work on the effect of nitrogen. EMPA was able to develop a research network during the duration of the project. In particular, EMPA hosted phD students and invited scientists from Sweden, Spain and France and was therefore able to conduct its national research within an international enviroment, which is reflected by the considerable amount of scientific publications together with groups from the network.
It was clear at the final meeting that almost all of the participants greatly valued the links that had been established. These will be continued through the informal 'European Working Group on Glow Discharge Spectrometry' (EW-GDS) and through the 'GDS-Forum' established on the web site of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, (BAM) Berlin, (http://www.bam.de/gds-forum.htm). There has also been support for the Expression of Interest for a wider 'Network of Excellence' (FP6) on Applied Surface Analysis, coordinated by the Institut für Spectrochemie und Angewandte Spektroskopie (ISAS), Dortmund (http://www.net-asa.org). EMPA is also involved in the preparation of an EUREKA initiative on GDMS and a Marie-Curie Training Network on GDOES.
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