Nanoparticle Enhanced Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (NELIBS), a first review

In this paper, the promising variant of the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique, namely Nanoparticle - Enhanced LIBS (NELIBS) is described. The underlying mechanisms responsible for NELIBS are described. This is done by presenting both the properties of metallic particles interacting with high-energy laser radiation and the mechanisms of laser ablation enabled by the presence of nanoparticles. Clarifications are also made about the sample preparation for NELIBS in particular about how to reach the optimal surface concentration of nanoparticles. NELIBS applications on different kinds of samples are also described such as metals, transparent samples, fresh samples and liquids including biological fluids.