Optical Signal Enhancement in LIBS Using Aluminum Nanoparticles on Brass Sample

Abstract

Nanoparticle Enhanced Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (NELIBS) studies were performed with Aluminum (Al) nanoparticles (NPs) on Brass metal target. Nanosecond pulses were used at 532 nm, ~7 ns, 10 Hz and ~150 mJ for LIBS experiments. Three Aluminum (Al) nanoparticles concentrations (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/mL) were prepared using 1 mg Al NPs solute dispersed in 5, 2.5 and 1.25 ml solvent of acetone. The two- to four-fold emission signal enhancement in emission line profiles of Zn and Cu has been observed. The NELIBS spectra were recorded at various gate delays for studying the temporal nature of enhanced line profiles. The enhancement in neutral and ionic emission lines due to nanoparticles was investigated and found that the emission intensity is increasing with increasing concentration (0.2 to 0.8 mg/mL) of nanoparticles.