Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
08:53
Dependence of Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Results on Pulse Energies and Timing Parameters Using Soil Simulants
Published on: September 23, 2013
Elemental misinterpretation in automated analysis of LIBS spectra
Waldemar Hübert1, Georg Ankerhold
1RheinAhrCampus Remagen, University of Applied Sciences Koblenz, Remagen, Germany.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|March 2, 2011
Summary
The Stark effect causes errors in automated laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) elemental analysis by shifting spectral lines. This study demonstrates how these shifts lead to misidentification, proposing solutions for more accurate LIBS software.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Spectroscopy
- Plasma Physics
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Automated laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) software can misallocate elements due to spectral interferences.
- The Stark effect, causing spectral line broadening and shifting, is a primary cause of these misallocations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the Stark effect in elemental misidentification within automated LIBS analysis.
- To propose methods for improving the accuracy of LIBS spectral analysis software.
Main Methods:
- Generated micro-plasma using a pulsed Nd/YAG laser on aluminum and brass targets in atmospheric air.
- Measured the temporal evolution of the Al(II) ion line at 281.6 nm during plasma decay.
- Analyzed spectral line shifts and broadening caused by the Stark effect.
Main Results:
- Observed a red-shift of up to 130 pm (490 GHz) in the Al(II) line center due to the Stark effect, dependent on laser power.
- Demonstrated that shifted spectral positions coincide with lines of other elements, leading to potential misinterpretation.
- Showed that time-resolving software analysis is susceptible to elemental misidentification.
Conclusions:
- The Stark effect significantly impacts automated LIBS accuracy by causing spectral line shifts and broadening.
- Recommends using larger gate delays, incorporating Stark broadening parameters, and non-symmetric tolerance ranges in LIBS software.
- These adjustments can enhance the reliability of automated LIBS analysis, reducing misidentification and increasing industrial applicability.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Interferences
Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) is a highly selective and sensitive technique for accurate elemental analysis. Though the analysis of ICP–MS mass spectra is comparatively straightforward, it is affected by spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic interferences. Spectroscopic interferences arise when the plasma contains ionic species with an m/z value the same as the analyte ion. Spectroscopic interference can be categorized as isobaric, polyatomic ions, and refractory oxide ion...
01:20Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the light emitted from excited atoms. In AES, atoms in a sample are excited to higher energy levels by thermal energy from high-temperature sources, such as plasma, arcs, or sparks. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The resulting atomic emission spectrum, which consists of...
01:24Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
An unknown compound can be established by identifying the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak is often weak or absent due to the predominance of fragmentation in high-energy electron beams. In such cases, a soft-energy electron beam can be used to scan the spectrum to enhance the intensity of the molecular ion peak. Additionally, chemical ionization, field ionization, and desorption ionization spectra are used to obtain a relatively intense molecular ion peak.To...
01:29Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...
01:30Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Interference
In atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), high-temperature atomizers excite a broad range of elements and molecules that generate complex emissions from sources such as oxides, hydroxides, and flame combustion products in the flame or plasma. Several strategies can be employed to minimize spectral interferences caused by overlapping emission lines or bands. These include increasing instrument resolution, choosing alternative emission lines, optimally placing the detector in low-background regions,...
01:25Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Interference
Interference leads to systematic error in atomic absorption (AA) measurements by enhancing or diminishing the analytical signal or the background. These interferences can be grouped into three main categories: spectral interference, chemical interference, and physical interference.
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...