Improvement of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy method sensitivity by combination of ag-nanoparticles and vacuum conditions
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| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Nanoparticles are nowadays used in many different fields. Recent method utilizes the metallic nanoparticles applied on a sample surface to improve the sensitivity of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) method, so called nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (NE-LIBS). LIBS is atomic emission spectroscopy based method where the laser-induced plasma (LIP) is created by focusing the high energy pulse on a sample surface. LIP emits characteristic radiation corresponding to its elemental composition. To the advantages of this contactless and quasi-destructive method belong fast analysis, measurements of samples in-situ without or with little sample preparation, and simultaneous multi-elemental analysis. Different ambient conditions (vacuum, etc.) affect also the intensity of detected signal. To the limitations of the LIBS method belongs quantitative analysis and low sensitivity in detection of trace elements. There exist several possibilities for enhancement of LIP signal; double-pulse LIBS, LIBS + LIFS (laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy), NE-LIBS, measurements under vacuum conditions, etc. In this study we combined the NE-LIBS method and vacuum conditions in order to obtain the highest enhancement in LIP signal, i.e. improvement of the sensitivity. Copper based alloys containing higher number of trace elements (for instance Pb, Al, Fe, Ni, Sb, Sn, As, i.e.) were studied. We focused on the step by step optimization of the measurement parameters, such as energy of laser pulse, temporally resolved detection, ambient pressure, and different concentration of Ag-nanoparticles applied on the sample surface. |
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