Purchase of a tandem LA-LIBS femtosecond laser system for the UK

Lead Research Organisation: University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Sch of the Env, Geography & Geosciences

Abstract

Earth and environmental scientists tackle diverse issues ranging from the formation of Earth to the fate of ecosystems being stressed by pollution. This requires us to measure the chemical composition of many different samples, including minerals, plastics, dust, and biological materials; this allows us to link physical and biological process (e.g. growth of minerals, breakdown of plastic in the environment, corrosion, dispersal of dust) with chemical ones (e.g. uptake of metals in minerals, release of toxic elements from plastics, transfer of polluting chemicals to plants and animals). Only then can we fully determine sustainable solutions to complex environmental problems, such as (1) how to locate and sustainably mine metals that are critical for building low-carbon infrastructure, (2) how dangerous microplastics are in rivers and oceans, and (3) how to reduce harmful air pollution. Measurement of such a broad range of materials usually requires a multitude of different instruments and methods. In addition, for many materials (e.g. plastic, dust) it is difficult to measure very small fragments in a controlled way. We propose the use of a new instrument, the first of its kind in the UK, that will allow analysis of a vast range of Earth materials and difficult to measure elements to provide high quality data critical for addressing geo-environmental problems.

The new instrument capitalises on recent innovations in laser technology, bringing together ultrafast femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA) with laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) into a single system (fs-LA-LIBS). It is uniquely capable of analysing a wide range of materials, as the very short duration pulse laser (femtosecond (fs) or one quadrillionth of a second!) ejects only a very thin surface layer of material and does not heat the sample below. This allows sensitive materials, such as plastic, liquids, biological samples and dust, to be rapidly analysed for their chemical composition. This is measured simultaneously in two ways: 1) LIBS - the laser energy ejects and excites atoms, which emit optical radiation (light) as they cool. Spectrometers measure the wavelength of this optical radiation and convert it into a chemical analysis of the sample, including for elements such as non-metals that are very difficult to measure in other ways. 2) LA - the tiny volume of ejected sample is swept away by a stream of gas into a mass spectrometer, where it enters a 7000degC plasma, (as hot as the Sun's surface), breaking down any remaining molecules and producing charged ions. These are separated by the mass spectrometer according to their mass and charge, providing highly-sensitive measurement of the concentration of trace elements and ratios of different isotopes in the sample.

The combination of these technologies in one instrument capable of rapid analysis will be unique to the UK and Europe, and will provide the data required to tackle many major environmental challenges.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We have worked out how to measure Li concentrations in geologic materials. This is in progress and was a major aim of the grant. We are yet to publish but anticipate doing so in teh next year. We have also worked out how to ablate plastics using this laser and have started to work on how to measure chemical composition of trace metals in plastics. This was a nother kay aim of the grant. Both of these objectives are being met by funded PhD students associated with the grant
Exploitation Route We are already working with an external collaborator, Chemostrat. We have 2 fellowship applications under review for researchers to come to Portsmouth and use the instrumentation directly in their research. We have 2 PhD students already started working on different apsects of the technique and we have one new one starting next October, based at the Open University but using our lab.
Sectors Energy

Environment

 
Description Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for the battery technology metal lifecycle
Amount £117,502 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/X005283/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2027
 
Description The Role of Plastics in Toxic Metal Cycling in the Environment - PhD bursary
Amount £79,752 (GBP)
Organisation University of Portsmouth 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2026
 
Title Femtosecond laser ablation ICP-MS with tandem LIBS 
Description The purchase of a tandem LA-LIBS system through a NERC Capital Grant has provided a new research tool for the UK environmental science community. The tool allows a wide range of matrices (e.g. silicates, carbonates, sulphides, plastics) to be analysed for their chemical composition. The femtosecond laser generates an athermal ablation of the materials and a plasma which generates photons that can be analysed spectroscopically (LIBS) while the ablated material can be carried by a gas into a plasma sourced mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for further analysis. The LIBS analysis allows elements to be measured that cannot conventionally be done in an ICP-MS, such as halogens, while the ICP-MS can measure a range of trace elments and/or isotopic ratios simulataneously. This opens up many potential avenues of research via the femtosecond laser capability, which allows ablation of materials that are not normally possible using concentional nanosecond lasers (e.g. sulphides and plastics), and the tandem LA-LIBS capability which allows measurement of a much wider range of elements across the periodic table. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The instrument was installed in December 2021 and is now available for use by the community. We are developing links with potential external and internal users although this is currently at a very early stage so we have no impacts to report as yet. 
 
Description Chemostrat LIBS collaboration 
Organisation Chemostrat Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have provided access, training and support for external users form Chemostrat. We have also held meetings to discuss commercialisation and working with further partners.
Collaborator Contribution Chemostrat has used the equipment and is actively seeking to introduce the technique to teh portfolio of services they can offer. They are using us an expert lab. They have also acted as a CASE partner on the STFC studentship related to this grant.
Impact No published outcomes. This is a commercial relationship. The main outcome is the inclusion of Chemostrat as a CASE partner on the STFC funded studentship related to this grant.
Start Year 2023