Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: technique,new features,and detection limits of trace elements in Al base alloy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has proven to be extremely versatile, providing multielement analysis in real time without sample preparation. The principle is based on the ablation of a small amount of target material by interaction of a strong laser beam with a solid target. The laser must have sufficient energy to excite atoms and to ionize them to produce plasma. We aimed to improve the LIBS limit of detection (LOD) and the precision of spectral lines emitted from the produced plasma by optimizing the parameters affecting the LIBS technique. LIBS LOD is affected by many experimental parameters such as interferences, self-absorption, spectral overlap, signal-to-noise ratio, and matrix effects. The plasma in the present study is generated by focusing a 6-ns pulsed Nd–YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength of 1,064 nm onto the Al target in air at atmospheric pressure. The emission spectra are recorded using an SE 200 Echelle spectrometer manufactured by the Catalina Corporation; it is equipped with an ICCD camera type Andor model iStar DH734-18. This spectrometer allows time-resolved spectral acquisition over the whole UV-NIR (200–1,000 nm) spectral range. Calibration curves for Cu, Mg, Mn, Si, Cr, and Fe were obtained with linear regression coefficients around 99 % on the average in aluminum standard alloy samples. The determined LOD has very useful improvements for Cu I at 521.85 nm, Si I at 288.15 nm, Mn I at 482.34 nm, and Cr I at 520.84 nm spectral lines. LOD is improved by 83.8 % for Cu, 49 % for Si, 84.3 % for Mn, and 45 % for Cr lower with respect to the previous works.     

Double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for trace element analysis in sintered iron oxide ceramics

Double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging technique for accurate compositional analysis of many different materials. We present a systematic study of collinear double-pulse LIBS for analysis of the trace and side elements boron, manganese, copper, aluminum, titanium, silicon, chromium, nickel, potassium, and calcium in sintered iron oxide targets. The samples were ablated in air by single-pulse and double-pulse Nd:YAG laser radiation (6 ns pulse duration, laser wavelength of 532 nm) and spectra were recorded with an Echelle spectrometer equipped with an ICCD camera. We investigated the evolution of atomic and ionic line emission intensities for different interpulse delay times between the laser pulses (from 100 ns to 50 μs) and gate delays after the second laser pulse. We also varied the energy partition between the first and second laser pulse and the size of the irradiated spot at the sample surface. For the trace and side elements, we observed double-pulse LIBS signals that were enhanced as compared to single-pulse measurements depending on the interpulse delay time, the energy partition between the pulses, and the spot size. For the elements boron, copper, aluminum, titanium, chromium, potassium, and calcium limits of detection below 10 ppm were achieved.     

Calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for quantitative elemental analysis of materials

The application of calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) for quantitative analysis of materials, illustrated by CF-LIBS applied to a brass sample of known composition, is presented in this paper. The LIBS plasma is produced by a 355?nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a pulse duration of 6?ns focussed onto a brass sample in air at atmospheric pressure. The time-resolved atomic and ionic emission lines of Cu and Zn from the LIBS spectra recorded by an Echelle spectrograph coupled with a gated intensified charge coupled detector are used for the plasma characterization and the quantitative analysis of the sample. The time delay where the plasma is optically thin and is also in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), necessary for the elemental analysis of samples from the LIBS spectra, is deduced. An algorithm relating the experimentally measured spectral intensity values with the basic physics of the plasma is developed. Using the algorithm, the Zn and Cu concentrations in the brass sample are determined. The analytical results obtained from the CF-LIBS technique agree well with the certified values of the elements in the sample, with an accuracy error <1%.     

利用激光诱导击穿光谱对铝合金成分进行多元素同时定量分析

利用激光诱导击穿光谱定量分析了铝合金中多种元素的成分。采用Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器,在空气环境下烧蚀铝合金固体样品获得等离子体。利用多通道光栅光谱仪和CCD检测器对200～980 nm波长范围的光谱进行同时检测。研究了检测时延、激光脉冲能量、元素深度分布对光谱强度的影响,考虑这些因素之后对实验参数进行了优化。在优化的实验参数下对国家标准铝合金样品中的八种元素Si,Fe,Cu,Mn,Mg,Zn,Sn及Ni进行了定标,并利用定标曲线对一种铝合金样品进行了定量分析。实验结果表明,测量结果的相对标准偏差(RSD)最大为5.89%,相对误差在-20.99%～15%范围内,说明对铝合金样品成分进行定量分析,激光诱导击穿光谱是一种有效的光谱分析工具,但是分析结果的准确度仍需要提高。     

激光诱导Ca等离子体温度的实验研究

 等离子体温度是激光诱导击穿光谱测量中一个重要的因素。采用Nd:YAG脉冲激光器作为光源击穿样品形成等离子体,其发射光谱由中阶梯光栅光谱仪和ICCD进行分光和光电转换。通过实验得出了300~450 nm波段的光谱图,定性分析出了Ca Ⅱ 315.9, 317.9, 393.4, 396.9 nm和Ca Ⅰ 422.7 nm等发射谱线。根据激光诱导击穿光谱定量公式,等离子体温度的变化对谱线强度有影响。先假设实验中等离子体处于局部热平衡状态,选用Ca的4条一价离子谱线,根据Boltzmann斜线法计算出了等离子体温度,并得到了等离子体温度与Ca质量分数的关系。随着Ca质量分数的增加,等离子体温度也相应增加。但当Ca质量分数小于0.50%时等离子体温度增加的幅度较小,而质量分数大于0.50%时等离子体温度的上升幅度相对较大。最后经过验证,实验中等离子体处于局部热平衡状态的假设成立。     

The validity of commercial LIBS for quantitative analysis of brass alloy — comparison of WDXRF and AAS

Commercial low-cost laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been successfully employed for the quantitative analysis of a Cu-based alloy using a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The main aim of the present investigation is to explore the benefits of a commercial low-cost LIBS setup. It was recognized that some trace elements such as Al and S could not be detected by LIBS even with a high-resolution spectrometer. The main difficulties in quantifying Cu as a basic component of a brass alloy are related to the self-absorption of Cu spectral lines, with the effect complicated at Cu concentrations higher than 65%. However, few Cu lines such as that at 330.795 nm would be helpful to use due to their lower susceptibility to self-absorption. LIBS, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) were compared for the detection of major and trace metals in the Cu-based alloy. In the case of WDXRF, the brass samples were identified by using a standardless quantitative analysis program depending on a fundamental parameter approach. The quantitative analysis results were acceptable for most of the major and minor elements of the brass sample. Therefore, commercial low cost LIBS would be useful for quantitative analysis of most elements in different types of alloys.     

铝合金焊前激光清洗的等离子体光谱在线检测

铝合金焊接技术在工业生产、制造和维修等领域有广泛的应用,焊缝内存在气孔导致焊接质量降低是铝合金焊接技术的常见问题。由于铝合金表面金属氧化物是导致气孔生成的主要来源,对激光清洗过程进行在线检测,不但可以实时分析表面氧化物的清洗状态,而且可以避免基体表面因为过度清洗造成损伤或二次氧化。提出采用激光诱导等离子体光谱(LIBS)在线检测铝合金焊前激光清洗过程,表征清洗后铝合金基体的表面状态。LIBS技术可以对多元素成分同时检测,拥有较低的检出限和较高的准确性。搭建基于Andor Mechelle 5000光谱仪的铝合金焊前激光清洗在线检测系统,剔除空气环境对实验结果的影响,测试6061铝合金表面氧化物和铝合金基体的LIBS光谱,分析两者独特的元素特征谱线,采用X射线能谱(EDS)测试结果验证元素特征谱线的准确性,并探讨激光清洗过程LIBS技术在线检测的可行性。实验测试等离子体光谱谱线强度与激光能量密度之间的关系,获得单次脉冲激光去除铝合金表面氧化物的损伤阈值,结合X射线能谱的检测结果研究激光损伤阈值的成因及影响。研究激光清洗过程等离子体光谱特征谱线与脉冲次数之间的关系,提出基于O/Al特征谱线强度比值作为在线检测清洗效果及二次氧化损伤的评判依据。为验证该评判依据的准确性,将O/Al特征谱线强度比值随清洗次数的变化趋势与X射线能谱测试获得的氧元素原子百分比变化趋势进行对比。实验结果表明:采用200~700 nm范围内激光诱导等离子体谱线特征分析激光清洗状态,可以剔除空气环境的影响;氧元素和铝元素特征谱线准确反映出表面氧化膜与铝合金基体的成分差异;X射线能谱检测元素成分和含量表明氧元素含量随着激光清洗能量密度先减后增,单次清洗铝合金的二次氧化损伤的激光能量阈值为11.46 J·cm-2,小于损伤阈值的激光能量密度对铝合金基体的多次清洗未造成损伤,等离子体光谱特征谱线强度与表面清洗状态相关, 656.5 nm(OⅡ)/396.2 nm(AlⅠ)谱线强度比值≤1.5%为激光清洗干净的依据。研究结果有利于铝合金的激光清洗实时控制技术和焊接装置集成化。     

激光诱导击穿光谱技术对土壤中重金属元素Cr的定量分析

为促进LIBS技术在土壤微量重金属元素检测中的应用,提高特征谱线的光谱强度和信背比,对实验参数进行优化,并对Cr元素进行分析。首先对激光器激发能量、样品距透镜距离和光谱仪采集延时等实验参数进行优化。对比激光器能量从60 mJ到110 mJ的谱线强度和信背比,当选用90 mJ的激发能量时可以得到最佳实验结果。其次,选择不同样品到透镜的距离,对比从焦前5 mm到焦后5 mm得到的实验结果,得出样品与透镜距离为焦后1 mm（即聚焦位置121 mm）时,Cr元素的特征谱线和信背比达到最佳。最后,分析对比光谱仪采集延时对谱线强度和信背比的影响,结果显示,与能量对等离子辐射强度的影响趋势大致相同,当采集延时为1 000 ns时,实验结果最佳。在最佳实验条件下（即激光器能量90 mJ、聚焦位置121 mm、采集延时1 000 ns）,对12种含有重金属Cr元素的土壤样品进行了光谱检测,为减弱外界环境的干扰,对同一样品的10个激光烧蚀位置得到的光谱做平均值预处理,选择Cr(Ⅰ)357.86 nm,Cr(Ⅰ)425.44 nm,Cr(Ⅰ)427.49 nm为特征谱线,通过建立样品掺杂浓度和光谱强度的定标曲线,得到了三条谱线的检测限LOD分别为74.62,64.07和67.49 mg·kg-1,拟合优度值R2分别为0.98,0.97和0.99,均方根误差值RMSE分别为0.41,0.33和0.35。同时,引入偏最小二乘法及支持向量机算法进一步提高了定标模型精度。研究表明,通过对实验参数进行优化及改善LIBS技术对微量元素的定量探测参数,得到了最优的光谱强度和信背比,并通过对Cr元素进行定量分析,计算定标曲线的Lorenz拟合得到检测限、拟合优度和均方根误差等实验参数,提高了LIBS对土壤中重金属元素的检测精度,这对于利用LIBS技术检测微量重金属元素具有重要的参考意义。     

金纳米与磁场作用下LIBS检测灵敏度改善研究

针对激光诱导击穿光谱技术（LIBS）中等离子体的发射光谱增强问题,提出一种磁场增强LIBS与纳米颗粒增强LIBS（NELIBS）相结合的方法。采用热蒸发法在样品表面沉积一层直径20 nm的金纳米颗粒。利用波长为1 064 nm,最大能量为200 mJ的Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器在室温,一个标准大气压下对纯铜和黄铜进行诱导击穿。调整激光能量为30~110 mJ,分别使用传统LIBS、磁场增强LIBS、NELIBS以及两种方法结合对纯铜进行激光诱导击穿,得到特征谱线(Cu Ⅰ 521.8 nm)的强度增强因子和信噪比,并对其增强机理进行分析。在相同环境下使用四种方式对黄铜和纯铜进行诱导击穿以探测样品中的微量元素。当在样品表面沉淀金纳米颗粒或者将沉淀有金纳米颗粒的样品放在磁场中进行诱导击穿时,发现纯铜样品的光谱中存在Mg元素的特征谱线Mg Ⅱ 279.569 nm,黄铜样品的光谱中存在Si元素的特征谱线 Si Ⅰ 251.611 nm。实验结果表明：单独施加磁场约束或增加纳米金颗粒均可以有效增强等离子体光谱强度,但增强效果弱于两种方法结合,磁场约束对光谱的增强效果弱于NELIBS的增强效果。当结合NELIBS与磁场约束LIBS时,谱线增强因子最高可达14.3(Cu Ⅰ 521.8 nm),相比于磁场增强LIBS和NELIBS,最大增强因子分别提高了28%和59%。四种情况中当激光脉冲能量逐渐增大时,等离子体向外膨胀的强度增大,磁场产生的洛伦兹力束缚等离子的能力相对减弱,同时纳米金颗粒对等离子体发射光谱的增强作用被削弱,谱线强度降低,等离子体的增强因子逐渐减小后趋于稳定。通过NELIBS与磁场约束LIBS结合方式,不仅可以有效提高等离子体的发射谱线强度,改善光谱信号信噪比,而且传统LIBS方法中由于谱线强度低、背景噪声大而无法探测的微量元素可以被探测到,LIBS技术对微量元素的探测能力得到显著提高,微量元素的探测下限变得更低。NELIBS与磁场约束LIBS结合的方法具有更高的灵敏度和准确度,为激光诱导击穿光谱技术的谱线增强方法提供了新的思路,在该领域具有广阔的应用前景。     

普铝中Fe,Si元素的激光诱导击穿光谱测试条件及定量分析研究

为推广LIBS技术在电解铝行业中的应用，充分发挥其快速、免制样、多元素同时检测的优势。利用激光诱导击穿光谱技术首次对铝电解生产得到的普铝中Fe和Si元素进行测试研究，探索了合理的实验参数条件，在合理的实验条件基础上建立定标曲线并对普铝中Fe和Si元素进行定量分析，结合国标GB/T 7999-2015《铝及铝合金光电直读发射光谱分析方法》考察LIBS测试结果的准确性。以Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器基频1 064 nm激光作为光源激发等离子体，采用多通道光栅光谱仪和ICCD检测器检测、记录光谱信息。首先探测了LIBS光谱谱线，并对谱线进行了归属；综合分析，选取AlⅠ 266.04 nm，SiⅠ 288.15 nm与FeⅠ 259.92 nm作为分析谱线用于定量分析研究。分别研究了触发延迟时间、1Q延迟时间、激光器设定电压对光谱信号强度及信噪比SNR的影响。实验结果表明，触发延迟时间4 μs、1Q延迟时间170～190 μs、激光器设定电压560 V对于Si与Fe元素定量测试分析而言是较为合理的实验参数。根据谱线强度与元素浓度的关系，采用内标法建立了定标曲线，Si与Fe元素定标曲线中相关系数分别为0.919 72与0.952 11，其相对标准偏差（RSD）分别为7.25%与6.34%，说明谱线强度与元素浓度具有良好的线性关系，并基于此模型对12个样品进行了定量测试分析。将测试结果与光电直读发射光谱测得的结果进行比对，结果表明，Fe含量的相对误差绝对值在0~17.3%之间，Si含量相对误差绝对值在0~14.3%之间。依照国标GB/T 7999-2015《铝及铝合金光电直读发射光谱分析方法》中规定的实验室之间分析结果相对误差≤17%的规定，12个测试样品中，试样Si含量测试100%符合允许差要求，试样Fe含量测试91.7%符合允许差要求。该实验结果表明，LIBS技术在电解铝普铝Fe和Si元素检测中具有一定的推广利用价值。     

实验参数对激光诱导铝合金产生等离子体光谱的影响

利用Nd∶YAG脉冲激光诱导击穿2519A铝合金产生等离子体光谱,采用光谱仪检测和记录了Al和Cu的原子谱线,并研究了不同实验参数或条件对该谱线的影响。结果表明,透镜到样品表面距离、探测角度、激光脉冲能量、观测高度和环境气压大小对实验分析性能,如谱线强度、信背比和实验可重复性等均有较大的影响,通过设置适当的实验条件可以获得最佳的实验结果。     

钢液中多元素的LIBS实时定量分析

将激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术直接应用于钢液成分的检测.研究结果表明,氩气作为保护气不仅可以避免钢液表面的氧化,同时可以增强等离子体信号强度.在氩气氛围下,钢液表面被聚焦成高功率密度的脉冲激光击穿形成等离子体,利用耦合CCD的多通道光纤光谱仪探测等离子体在冷却过程中发射的光谱信号,得到钢液组分的相关信息.根据分析谱线选取原则,确定了主要合金元素Mn,Si和Cr的特征谱线,并建立了相应元素的定标曲线,曲线的线性拟合度均在0.925以上,对应的质量浓度检测限分别为75.7,23.8和724.5 μg·g-1.     

样品温度和空间约束两种方法相结合对激光诱导击穿光谱的影响

升高样品温度和采用空间约束能提高激光诱导击穿光谱的信号强度,两种技术的结合可以进一步提高激光诱导击穿光谱的光谱强度。本文在空气环境中研究了升高样品温度和空间约束效应两种方法相结合对激光诱导击穿光谱的影响,测量了激光诱导铝等离子体的时间分辨光谱。实验结果表明:升高样品温度能增加激光诱导击穿光谱的信号强度,高温样品能耦合更多的激光能量;当圆柱形腔被用于约束等离子体时,信号强度得到了进一步提高。两个实验条件的结合对于激光诱导击穿光谱信号增强的效果明显强于单独升高样品温度或者单独采用空间约束的增强效果。单一200°C高温下样品的Al(I)396.2 nm线强度增加了1.4倍;单一空间约束条件下的Al(I)396.2 nm线强度增加了1.3倍;而在200°C和空间约束的组合条件下,Al(I)396.2 nm线强度增加了2.1倍。这个结合效应增强效果产生主要由于激光照射高温样品产生更强的冲击波,从而能更有效地压缩高温下产生的更大尺寸的等离子体羽,进一步提高了激光诱导击穿光谱的强度。     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy: A versatile tool for monitoring traces in materials

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging technique for simultaneous multi-elemental analysis of solids, liquids and gases with minute or no sample preparation and thus revolutionized the area of on-line analysis technologies. The foundation for LIBS is a solid state, short-pulsed laser that is focused on a sample to generate a high-temperature plasma, and the emitted radiation from the excited atomic and ionic fragments produced within the plasma is characteristic of the elemental composition of the sample that can be detected and analyzed using a suitable optical spectrograph. In the present paper, the applicability of LIBS for different solid samples having homogeneous (silver ornament, aluminum plate) or heterogeneous composition (soil) using nanosecond laser pulses is discussed. Nanosecond pulse laser makes plasma at the sample surface even at very low pulse energies and also allows for precise ablation of the substrate material with little damage to the surrounding area. We have also studied the penetration of different heavy metals inside the soil surface.      

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INSTRUMENTATION FOR LASER INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY

ABSTRACT

This review describes, in detail, the most recent developments in instrumentation for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The paper focuses on various laser systems, including excimer, CO₂, and Nd: YAG and their performance in LIBS. The coupling of fiber-optics to LIBS and development of portable LIBS systems and their performance is presented. New approaches such as dual pulse operation, multi-fiber, resonant ablation, and combination with laser induced fluorescence are further described. Finally the use of the Echelle spectrometer in which it has been combined with various charge coupled devices.     

Applications of LIBS for determination of ionic species (NaCl) in electrical cables for investigation of electrical breakdown

The formation of water trees in high-voltage cables can wreak havoc to power systems. The water tree is produced within the high voltage cable insulator when impurities like sodium and magnesium present in the insulating material react with moist soil to form chlorides. This water tree causes electrical breakdown by short circuiting the metallic conductor and the earth. In this paper we use laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to detect the potentially dangerous elements that form the water tree in the insulating cable. The LIBS system used for this work consists of the fundamental (1064 nm) of a Nd:YAG laser, four spectrometer modules that cover the visible and near-UV spectral ranges and an ICCD camera with proper delay and gating sequence. With this arrangement we were able to measure the elemental concentrations of trace metals present in the insulating cable. The concentrations measured with our LIBS system were counter checked by a standard technique like inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry. The maximum concentrations for ionic species such as Ba (455.40 nm), Ca (393.36 nm), Cr (267.71 nm), Fe (259.94 nm), Cl (542.3 nm), Mg (516.7 nm), Mn (257.61 nm), Na (589.59 nm) and Ti (334.18 nm) are 20.6, 43.2, 1.6, 148.4, 24.2, 22.1, 4.2, 39.56 and 4.35 ppm, respectively. The relative accuracy of our LIBS system for various elements as compared with the ICP method is in the range of 0.03–0.6 at 2.5% error confidence.     

再加热双脉冲激光诱导等离子体的时空演变特性研究

为了研究再加热双脉冲激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)对信号的增强机制,分别采用单脉冲LIBS和再加热双脉冲LIBS两种方式烧蚀合金钢样品产生等离子体,利用高分辨率的中阶梯光栅光谱仪采集等离子体发射光谱信号,同时用快速成像ICCD相机观测等离子体形态的变化,研究了两种烧蚀方式下等离子体的时空演变特性。通过比较两种烧蚀方式下等离子体产生初期光谱信号和图像的时间演变规律,发现再加热双脉冲LIBS提高了等离子体温度,且当信号采集延时等于再加热双脉冲的脉冲间隔时,等离子体温度的衰减速率发生变化;再加热双脉冲LIBS使等离子体图像强度增加,等离子体的中心区域高度和宽度分别增大了23.5%和15.1%。空间分布的研究结果表明,与单脉冲LIBS相比,当到样品表面的距离大于0.6 mm时,等离子体中的Fe Ⅱ和N Ⅰ谱线强度有较明显的增强,而Fe Ⅰ谱线在空间不同位置处的增强程度都较小,局部区域有减小的现象;再加热双脉冲LIBS使等离子体温度增加了约2 000 K,等离子体中产生了一个较大的高温区域。综合时空演变的实验结果说明再加热双脉冲对光谱信号增强的机制主要是由于第二束激光对第一束激光烧蚀样品产生的等离子体再次激发,使等离子体温度增加,进而引起等离子体辐射强度增加。     

应用激光诱导击穿光谱检测污水溶液中的砷

工业冶炼过程中产生的废水中含有As等重金属元素,对环境造成污染并对人类身体健康形成危害,有必要对其进行实时、在线的监测。激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)是一种新型的元素测量技术,具有快速检测等优点。文章作者搭建了一套激光诱导击穿光谱实验装置,采用Nd∶YAG激光器产生的脉冲激光击穿样品产生等离子体,其发射的光谱被中阶梯光栅光谱仪分光,并用ICCD进行光电探测。对从现场采集的含砷工业废水开展了LIBS探测实验,并定性分析出了As元素的特征谱线。根据一系列含As浓度不同的污水样品的LIBS实验结果,获得元素浓度与谱线强度的关系曲线(定标曲线)。采用定标曲线可以对未知含As浓度的工业废水进行定量分析。结果表明,采用LIBS方法能够实现对污水溶液中的As元素的快速检测,具有广泛的应用前景。     

Combination of RF-plasma jet and Laser-induced plasma for breakdown spectroscopy analysis of complex materials

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy method is modified using an external radiofrequency (RF) plasma jet that overlaps spatially with the laser-induced plasma. Short UV laser pulses (wavelength 193 nm) are employed to ablate iron oxide ceramics, zinc oxide ceramics and polyethylene pressed pellets in ambient air background. An RF generator (frequency 13.56 MHz, power ≤1 kW) and a gas nozzle system are employed to generate a continuous jet of argon and nitrogen plasma expanding into air. The optical emission of the overlapped plasma is analyzed using an Echelle spectrometer equipped with an intensified CCD camera. The time dependence of optical emission intensities and of plasma parameters is investigated by varying the spectrometer delay time with respect to the laser pulse. The emission intensities of major (Fe, Zn) and minor (Mn, Al) elements are moderately increased with the RF plasma jet (≤2×). The intensities of atomic lines and molecular bands from ablated polymer material are increased also.     

Evaluation of plasma produced by first and second harmonic nano-second laser for enhancing the capability of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy technique

Evaluation of plasmas produced and optimized for improving the capability of convenential laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for analytical purposes of solid samples is the main goal of the present work. The plasma produced in the present study was generated by focusing a single nano-second Nd:YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm and at the second harmonic wavelength of 532 nm on an Al target in air at atmospheric pressure. The emission spectrum was recorded time resolved over the whole UV-NIR (200–1000 nm) spectral range. This work describes an extension of previously reported studies and focuses now on the determination of the plasma parameters at the optimum condition – highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and minimum limit of detection (LOD) — of the LIBS technique, which is now widely applied to the elemental analysis of materials in atmospheric air. Parameters of the produced plasma in the time interval from 0 to 10 μs are determined for to further understanding the LIBS plasma dynamics. O I and Mn I spectral lines are used in the present work as thermometric lines for the determination of the plasma temperature based on Boltzmann plots. Stark broadening of lines yields the electron density. The widths of the H _α -line at 656.27 nm, of the O I line at 844.65 nm, of Al II lines at 281.65 nm and 466.30 nm and of the Si I line at 288.15 nm has been utilized for that. The plasma temperature ranged from 0.73 eV to around 1 eV for the different laser energies with both laser wavelengths for the optimized plasma used for LIBS analysis. This temperature is very close to that well known for the other spectrochemical analytical techniques or in excitation sources such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).