Accuracy improvement of quantitative analysis for major elements in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Accurate major element determination in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is challenging with limited standards.
• Traditional multipoint calibration LIBS (MPC-LIBS) requires extensive sample preparation and multiple standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel one-point calibration method, single-sample calibration LIBS (SSC-LIBS).
• To enhance the accuracy and stability of major element determination in LIBS.
• To reduce the need for extensive sample preparation and multiple standards.

Main Methods:

• Developed and applied the single-sample calibration LIBS (SSC-LIBS) method.
• Determined major elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Nb, Mo) in certified samples without sample preparation.
• Compared SSC-LIBS performance against multipoint calibration LIBS (MPC-LIBS).

Main Results:

• SSC-LIBS significantly improved accuracy for Cu determination, with R² increasing from 0.40 to 0.97 and root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) decreasing from 3.55 wt% to 0.76 wt%.
• Average relative error of standard deviation (ARE) decreased from 5.19% to 1.05%, and average relative standard deviation (ARSD) decreased from 16.22% to 1.15% for Cu.
• SSC-LIBS achieved low AREs (mostly <5%) across various concentration ranges (1-100 wt%).

Conclusions:

• SSC-LIBS offers a simplified and accurate approach for major element analysis using LIBS.
• The method enhances analytical accuracy and stability, even with only one standard sample.
• SSC-LIBS has the potential to significantly broaden the practical applications of LIBS in elemental analysis.