Enhancement of Analytical Signal of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy by Deposition of Gold Nanoparticles on Analyzed Sample

Efficiency of LIBS signal enhancement by deposition of gold nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in acetone on the surface of the analyzed sample has been studied. Characteristics of laser plasma generated on steel surface before and after deposition of the nanoparticles are compared. It is found that deposition of nanoparticles increases plasma volume and lifetime, but does not affect erosion of the material. Deposition of nanoparticles results in the enhancement of spectral lines intensities depending on the zone of the plasma plume selected for analysis: signal enhancement grows with distance from the sample.