LIBS

Handheld LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) Analyzer

Handheld LIBS analyzers represent a significant advancement in portable elemental analysis, enabling rapid, on-site identification and quantification of metals and alloys. These compact devices are widely used across industries for their speed, accuracy, and ability to detect light elements that are often challenging for other portable analyzers.

Key Features and Advantages of Handheld LIBS Analyzers

Portability and Ergonomics

Handheld LIBS analyzers are designed for field use, featuring lightweight, rugged, and ergonomic designs that allow for one-handed operation, even in harsh environments such as scrap yards or industrial sites. Many models, such as the OA-100S and Vela series, are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance and are shockproof for durability in challenging conditions.

Speed and Efficiency

LIBS analyzers deliver results in just 1–2 seconds, making them significantly faster than many traditional techniques, including handheld XRF (X-ray fluorescence), when sorting certain alloys, such as aluminum. The rapid analysis capability saves time in quality control, sorting, and verification processes.

Broad Elemental Range

LIBS technology excels at detecting light elements such as lithium (Li), beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), and aluminum (Al), which are difficult or impossible for handheld XRF analyzers to measure. Advanced models can analyze a wide range of elements, covering most of the periodic table except for a few gases and halogens.

Minimal Sample Preparation

Some LIBS analyzers feature automatic surface cleaning or “drill down” capabilities, which use the laser to remove surface contaminants and oxidation, ensuring accurate readings even on dirty or corroded samples.

Low Cost of Ownership

Unlike XRF analyzers, LIBS devices do not require radioactive sources, eliminating the need for costly licenses and radiation safety training. They have no consumables and require minimal maintenance, further reducing operational costs4.

User-Friendly Interface and Connectivity

Modern handheld LIBS analyzers come with intuitive touch screen interfaces, customizable software, and built-in cameras for sample documentation. Data can be easily transferred via USB, WiFi, or Bluetooth, and results can be stored, shared, or printed on-site using portable Bluetooth printers.

Customizable Libraries and Reporting

Onboard software allows users to create and modify alloy libraries, facilitating quick grade identification and compliance with industry standards5. Results are often displayed in an easy-to-understand format, such as match/non-match alerts, with detailed elemental percentages5.

How LIBS Works

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a type of atomic emission spectroscopy that uses a high-powered laser pulse to ablate a tiny amount of material from the sample surface. Here’s a step-by-step overview:

Laser Ablation

The analyzer directs a focused laser pulse onto the sample. The energy from the laser vaporizes a minuscule portion of the material, creating a plasma—a hot, ionized gas containing excited atoms and ions from the sample37.

Plasma Emission

As the plasma cools, the excited atoms and ions emit light at characteristic wavelengths specific to the elements present in the sample.

Spectral Detection

The emitted light is collected and analyzed by an onboard spectrometer, which records the intensity of the various wavelengths.

Elemental Identification

The analyzer’s software matches the detected spectral lines to known elemental signatures, quantifying the concentrations and, if applicable, identifying alloy grades.

Technical Specifications (Typical Values)

Feature	Typical Value/Range
Laser Type	Passively Q-switched solid-state, Class 3B, 1064 nm
Spectral Range	190–950 nm (model dependent)
Resolution	<0.2 nm
Elements Detected	Li, Be, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Sn, W, Pb, Au, Bi, etc.57
Sample Types	Metals, alloys, various shapes, and surfaces
Analysis Time	1–2 seconds per test
Battery Life	5–6 hours of continuous use
Weight	1.25–1.5 kg
Data Storage	8 GB or more, customizable libraries
Connectivity	USB, WiFi, Bluetooth
Display	4.0-inch touch screen, high resolution
Operating Temperature	0–40°C (recommended 5–35°C)

Applications of Handheld LIBS Analyzers

Handheld LIBS analyzers are versatile tools used across many industries due to their ability to provide rapid, in-situ elemental analysis. Key application areas include:

Metals and Alloys Identification

• Sorting and identification of various metals and alloys, including stainless steels (304, 316, 321), aluminum alloys (6061, 6063), brass, titanium, and zinc alloys.
• Verification of metal grades for manufacturing, fabrication, and recycling.

Scrap Metal Recycling

• Rapid sorting and grading of scrap metals in recycling facilities, enabling efficient separation and valuation of materials.
• Detection of valuable or hazardous elements in mixed scrap streams.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

• On-site verification of incoming raw materials and finished products to ensure compliance with specifications and standards.
• Preventing costly mix-ups or contamination in production lines.

Positive Material Identification (PMI)

Used in industries such as petrochemical, aerospace, and power generation for PMI to ensure that critical components meet required material specifications and safety standards.

Mining and Geology

Field analysis of ores and minerals for exploration and grade control. Detection of trace elements and mapping of elemental distributions.

Research and Education

Used in laboratories and educational settings for rapid elemental analysis and demonstration of atomic emission principles.

Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

Detection of toxic or regulated elements in soils, dust, or industrial byproducts. Ensuring compliance with environmental standards and regulations.

Conclusion

Handheld LIBS analyzers have transformed elemental analysis by combining speed, portability, and broad elemental coverage. Their ability to accurately identify light elements and alloys, coupled with rugged design and user-friendly interfaces, makes them indispensable across industries such as recycling, manufacturing, petrochemicals, and beyond. With ongoing advances in laser technology, software, and connectivity, handheld LIBS devices continue to set new standards for rapid, reliable, and cost-effective material analysis in the field.

Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy FAQs

What is the principle of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy?

LIBS works by focusing a short, high-powered laser pulse onto the surface of a sample. This intense laser pulse ablates (removes) a tiny amount of material from the sample surface, creating a micro-plasma with extremely high temperature (often exceeding 15,000 K to 30,000 K). From the material that has been ablated, plasma contains excited atoms, ions, and free electrons. Excited species return to their ground states as plasma cools, emitting light at wavelengths unique to each element present in the sample. This emitted light is collected and analyzed spectrally to identify and quantify the elemental composition of the sample.

The core process can be summarized as:

• Laser pulse → Ablation of sample → Formation of high-temperature plasma → Emission of characteristic light → Spectral analysis for elemental identification.

What is the function of LIBS?

The primary function of LIBS is to provide rapid, qualitative, and quantitative elemental analysis of a wide range of materials. It enables the detection of multiple elements simultaneously, including light elements such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, which are difficult for some other techniques. LIBS can analyze solids, liquids, and gases with minimal or no sample preparation. The emitted light spectrum serves as a "fingerprint" for the elements in the sample, allowing for fast chemical characterization.

What is LIBS used for?

LIBS is used for elemental analysis in many fields due to its speed, versatility, and minimal sample preparation requirements. Typical uses include:

• Rapid identification of elemental composition in metals, soils, plants, biological tissues, plastics, and electronic materials.
• In situ and remote sensing applications, including environmental monitoring of air, water, and soil pollution.
• Industrial quality control such as detecting impurities or dangerous elements during manufacturing.
• Archaeological analysis for non-destructive elemental characterization of artifacts and pigments.
• Biomedical research, including analysis of biological fluids, tissues, and potential cancer detection.
• Food industry and agronomy for nutrient and contaminant analysis in food and soil.
• Space exploration, as LIBS instruments have been used on Mars rovers for elemental analysis of rocks and soils.

What is the application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy?

LIBS has broad applications across many disciplines:

• Environmental Monitoring: Real-time detection of heavy metals and pollutants in air, soil, and water.
• Industrial Process Control: Fast elemental analysis to ensure material quality and detect contaminants.
• Archaeology and Art Conservation: Non-destructive analysis of cultural heritage objects to determine elemental composition and assist in restoration.
• Biomedical Field: Analysis of biological samples for mineral content, toxic elements, and potential disease markers.
• Agriculture and Food Safety: Measuring nutrient levels and detecting adulterants in food products and soil.
• Space Science: Onboard elemental analysis of extraterrestrial materials using portable LIBS devices.