Elemental study of Devarda’s alloy using calibration free-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF‒LIBS)

Abstract In the present study, we present the compositional analysis of a Devarda’s alloy using the calibration–free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) technique. A nanosecond pulsed Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was focused on the target-sample under investigation to ablate its surface and the measured emission spectrum was registered by using a spectrometer (LIBS2000+) having the optical spectral within a range from 200–720 nm. The analysis of the measured optical spectra confirms the presence of three major elements Aluminum (Al), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) in the target sample. The emission intensity line profiles of Zn, Cu, and Al were utilized to estimate the plasma-parameters consisting of excitation temperature, and the plasma number density. The plasma excitation temperature was investigated using the Boltzmann-plot technique, which yields the temperature for Cu and Zn as 8547 ± 5% K and 8100 ± 5%, respectively, while the electron plasma density was calculated from the Stark-broadening of individual neutral emission lines of Al, Cu, and Zn. For the quantitative analysis of the elements that exist in the target sample, a CF-LIBS technique was employed by assuming the condition of optically thin plasma as well as local thermodynamics equilibrium. Using the CF-LIBS technique, the relative composition in the form of weight percentage was estimated to be Zn: 57%, Al: 39%, and Cu: 4%, whereas, the certified concentration of Devarda’s alloy was 50% for Zn, 45% for Al, and 5% for Cu. These measured results reveal that the elemental concentration utilizing CF-LIBS shows a reasonable agreement with standard estimates illustrated by the manufacturer. This study further suggests that the CF-LIBS technique opens up an opportunity for engineering and industrial usage of LIBS where a quantifiable study of the substance is exceedingly advantageous.