Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Elemental Analysis

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a laser-based technique that can provide nonintrusive, qualitative, and quantitative measurements of elements in gas, liquid, and solid samples. Two major advantages of LIBS, a method of atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), compared with other emission techniques, are that time-consuming sample preparation is not necessary and measurements can be done rapidly. LIBS uses the plasma generated by a powerful laser pulse to prepare and excite the sample in one step. It also has the ability to perform simultaneous multielement analysis. A major disadvantage is that the sample excitation conditions are sensitive to variations in laser parameters and characteristics of the sample, thereby limiting analytical performance. The small amount of sample material used in LIBS analysis also limits detection sensitivity for some elements compared with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICPAES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The potential of LIBS to detect toxic metals in harsh environments was recognized in the early 1970s. Recent developments toward improving its analytical capability have led to additional applications. This article reviews some applications of LIBS with an emphasis on environmental monitoring. A brief review of some fundamentally directed LIBS studies is also presented. The analytical abilities of LIBS are compared with other spectroscopic techniques commonly used in the laboratory, such as AAS, ICPAES, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF).

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