Iron oxides, have been widely studied as promising anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for their high capacity (≈ 1000 mA h g-1 for Fe2O3 and Fe3O4,), non-toxicity, and low cost. In this work, β-FeOOH has been evaluated within a LIB half-cell showing an excellent capacity of ≈ 1500 mA h g-1 , superior to Fe2O3 or Fe3O4. Reaction mechanism has been proposed with the assistance of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Various magnetic properties have been suggested for β-FeOOH such as superparamagnetism, antiferromagnetism and complex magnetism, for which, size of the material is believed to play a critical role. Here, we present a size-controlled synthesis of β-FeOOH nanorods. Co-existing superparamagnetism and antiferromagnetism have been revealed in β-FeOOH by using a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). Compared with the high price of lithium in LIBs, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted increasing attentions for lower cost. Recent studies have reported Na0.44MnO2 to be a promising candidate for cathode material of SIBs. This thesis has approached a novel solid-state synthesis of Na0.44MnO2 whiskers and a nano-scaled open cell for in situ TEM study. Preliminary results show the first-stage fabrication of the cell on a biasing protochip.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:36:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6207.pdf: 1470379 bytes, checksum: b540bf8d2f480bb5b0ade5578229c65a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-18 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / In this study were developed two methods for sample preparation: one for children s eye shadow and another for chidren s lipstick. In the optimizing process, variables such as nitric acid concentration (2 or 7 mol L-1), sample mass (100 or 250 mg), heating time (1 or 3 hours) and concentration of Triton X-100 (5 or 25%) were investigated. The instrumental parameters of ICP OES were optimized in order to find a good working condition for the analytes determination. In the beginning it was performed a fractional factorial design 29- 5 (nine variables) and, after variables selection, a fine adjustment using Central Composite and Doehlert designs was made to study the most important variables (radio frequency power and nebulizer gas flow rate). In order to evaluate the regression models proposed, responses like LOQ and recovery for each analyte and in each view mode (radial and axial) were taken into consideration using desirability function. From the generated models it was possible to find the compromise condition with radio frequency power of 1200 W and a nebulizer gas flow rate of 0.825 L min-1. The methods developed for the preparation of the samples were applied to 22 samples of children cosmetics (14 eye shadows and 8 lipsticks). The analytes were determined using ICP OES (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Ni) and GF AAS (Pb). The majority of the concentrations obtained were lower than the international normatives, but the Pb values ranged from <LOQ to 44 mg kg-1 in some samples. Exploratory analysis using the emission spectra from LIBS was performed and similarity among the samples was observed. / Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidos dois métodos de preparo de amostra, uma para amostras de sombra infantil para os olhos e outro para amostras de batom infantil. Na otimização desses métodos estudou-se variáveis como: concentração de ácido nítrico (2 ou 7 mol L-1), massa de amostra (100 ou 250 mg), tempo de aquecimento (1 ou 3 horas) e concentração de Triton X-100 (5 ou 25%). Os parâmetros instrumentais do ICP OES foram otimizados visando encontrar uma condição ótima de trabalho para os analitos nas amostras a serem analisadas. Foi realizado primeiramente um planejamento fatorial fracionário 29- 5 (nove variáveis) e posteriormente um ajuste fino das variáveis considerados mais importantes (potência de radiofrequência e vazão do gás de nebulização). Para o ajuste fino do ICP OES foi realizado um planejamento Composto Central e um Doehlert. Após a realização dos experimentos gerou-se modelos com as respostas de LOQ e de recuperação para cada analito e para cada modo de visão (radial e axial). A partir dos modelos gerados foi possível chegar à condição de compromisso de uma potência de radiofrequência de 1200 W e uma vazão do gás de nebulização de 0,825 L min-1. Para o tratamento dos dados obtidos em todos os processos de otimização deste trabalho foi utilizada a função de desejabilidade como ferramenta quimiométrica. Os métodos desenvolvidos para o preparo das amostras foram aplicados para 22 amostras de cosméticos infantis (14 sombras e 8 batons). Os analitos foram determinados em ICP OES (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu e Ni) e GF AAS (Pb). Para a maioria dos casos as concentrações obtidas foram inferiores àquelas das normativas, porém para o Pb os valores variaram de <LOQ até 44 mg kg-1 em algumas amostras. Análise exploratória utilizando espectros de emissão do LIBS mostrou uma similaridade entre as amostras.

The primary objective of this research is to develop an applied technology and provide an assessment for remotely measuring and analyzing the real time or near real time concentrations of used nuclear fuel (UNF) elements in electrorefiners (ER). Here, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in UNF pyroprocessing facilities was investigated. LIBS is an elemental analysis method, which is based on the emission from plasma generated by focusing a laser beam into the medium. This technology has been reported to be applicable in solids, liquids (includes molten metals), and gases for detecting elements of special nuclear materials. The advantages of applying the technology for pyroprocessing facilities are: (i) Rapid real-time elemental analysis; (ii) Direct detection of elements and impurities in the system with low limits of detection (LOD); and (iii) Little to no sample preparation is required. One important challenge to overcome is achieving reproducible spectral data over time while being able to accurately quantify fission products, rare earth elements, and actinides in the molten salt. Another important challenge is related to the accessibility of molten salt, which is heated in a heavily insulated, remotely operated furnace in a high radiation environment within an argon gas atmosphere. This dissertation aims to address these challenges and approaches in the following phases with their highlighted outcomes: 1. Aerosol-LIBS system design and aqueous testing: An aerosol-LIBS system was designed around a Collison nebulizer and tested using deionized water with Ce, Gd, and Nd concentrations from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm. The average %RSD values between the sample repetitions were 4.4% and 3.8% for the Ce and Gd lines, respectively. The univariate calibration curve for Ce using the peak intensities of the Ce 418.660 nm line was recommended and had an R2 value, LOD, and RMSECV of 0.994, 189 ppm, and 390 ppm, respectively. The recommended Gd calibration curve was generated using the peak areas of the Gd 409.861 nm line and had an R2, LOD, and RMSECV of 0.992, 316 ppm, and 421 ppm, respectively. The partial least squares (PLS) calibration curves yielded similar results with RMSECV of 406 ppm and 417 ppm for the Ce and Gd curves, respectively. 2. High temperature aerosol-LIBS system design and CeCl3 testing: The aerosol-LIBS system was transitioned to a high temperature and used to measure Ce in molten LiCl-KCl salt within a glovebox environment. The concentration range studied was from 0.1 wt% to 5 wt% Ce. Normalization was necessary due to signal degradation over time; however, with the normalization the %RSD values averaged 5% for the mid and upper concentrations studied. The best univariate calibration curve was generated using the peak areas of the Ce 418.660 nm line. The LOD for this line was 148 ppm with the RMSECV of 647 ppm. The PLS calibration curve was made using 7 latent variables (LV) and resulting in the RMSECV of 622 ppm. The LOD value was below the expected rare earth concentration within the ER. 3. Aerosol-LIBS testing using UCl3: Samples containing UCl3 with concentrations ranging from 0.3 wt% to 5 wt% were measured. The spectral response in this range was linear. The best univariate calibration curves were generated using the peak areas of the U 367.01 nm line and had an R2 value of 0.9917. Here, the LOD was 647 ppm and the RMSECV was 2,290 ppm. The PLS model was substantially better with a RMSECV of 1,110 ppm. The LOD found here is below the expected U concentrations in the ER. The successful completion of this study has demonstrated the feasibility of using an aerosol-LIBS analytical technique to measure rare earth elements and actinides in the pyroprocessing salt.

Gunshot residue (GSR) is the term used to describe the particles originating from different parts of the firearm and ammunition during the discharge. A fast and practical field tool to detect the presence of GSR can assist law enforcement in the accurate identification of subjects. A novel field sampling device is presented for the first time for the fast detection and quantitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The capillary microextraction of volatiles (CMV) is a headspace sampling technique that provides fast results (< 2 min. sampling time) and is reported as a versatile and high-efficiency sampling tool. The CMV device can be coupled to a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument by installation of a thermal separation probe in the injection port of the GC. An analytical method using the CMV device was developed for the detection of 17 compounds commonly found in polluted environments. The acceptability of the CMV as a field sampling method for the detection of VOCs is demonstrated by following the criteria established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compendium method TO-17. The CMV device was used, for the first time, for the detection of VOCs on swabs from the hands of shooters, and non-shooters and spent cartridges from different types of ammunition (i.e., pistol, rifle, and shotgun). The proposed method consists in the headspace extraction of VOCs in smokeless powders present in the propellant of ammunition. The sensitivity of this method was demonstrated with method detection limits (MDLs) 4-26 ng for diphenylamine (DPA), nitroglycerine (NG), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), and ethyl centralite (EC). In addition, a fast method was developed for the detection of the inorganic components (i.e., Ba, Pb, and Sb) characteristic of GSR presence by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Advantages of LIBS include fast analysis (~ 12 seconds per sample) and good sensitivity, with expected MDLs in the range of 0.1-20 ng for target elements. Statistical analysis of the results using both techniques was performed to determine any correlation between the variables analyzed. This work demonstrates that the information collected from the analysis of organic components has the potential to improve the detection of GSR.

The necessity of elemental analysis techniques to solve forensic problems continues to expand as the samples collected from crime scenes grow in complexity. Laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) has been shown to provide a high degree of discrimination between samples that originate from different sources. In the first part of this research, two laser ablation ICP-MS systems were compared, one using a nanosecond laser and another a femtosecond laser source for the forensic analysis of glass. The results showed that femtosecond LA-ICP-MS did not provide significant improvements in terms of accuracy, precision and discrimination, however femtosecond LA-ICP-MS did provide lower detection limits. In addition, it was determined that even for femtosecond LA-ICP-MS an internal standard should be utilized to obtain accurate analytical results for glass analyses. In the second part, a method using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the forensic analysis of glass was shown to provide excellent discrimination for a glass set consisting of 41 automotive fragments. The discrimination power was compared to two of the leading elemental analysis techniques, µXRF and LA-ICP-MS, and the results were similar; all methods generated >99% discrimination and the pairs found indistinguishable were similar. An extensive data analysis approach for LIBS glass analyses was developed to minimize Type I and II errors en route to a recommendation of 10 ratios to be used for glass comparisons. Finally, a LA-ICP-MS method for the qualitative analysis and discrimination of gel ink sources was developed and tested for a set of ink samples. In the first discrimination study, qualitative analysis was used to obtain 95.6% discrimination for a blind study consisting of 45 black gel ink samples provided by the United States Secret Service. A 0.4% false exclusion (Type I) error rate and a 3.9% false inclusion (Type II) error rate was obtained for this discrimination study. In the second discrimination study, 99% discrimination power was achieved for a black gel ink pen set consisting of 24 self collected samples. The two pairs found to be indistinguishable came from the same source of origin (the same manufacturer and type of pen purchased in different locations). It was also found that gel ink from the same pen, regardless of the age, was indistinguishable as were gel ink pens (four pens) originating from the same pack.

As a consequence of the widespread use of computers coupled to high-quality printers and different types of papers, forgery, counterfeiting, change of wills, anonymous letter writing and felonious use of the documents have become serious problems. Forensic analysts are always seeking methods that can provide reliable information on whether a specimen collected at the crime scene is linked to the crime or to a source of known origin. Sensitive methods that can provide more detailed characterization of natural or man-made materials or even provide information not previously available to forensic examiners. Recent advances in rapid solid sampling of materials using laser ablation (LA) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) have led to this analytical method to be regarded as the “gold standard” in the field of elemental analysis for trace level components in solids. Another, emerging, analytical technique that uses the same laser pulse to generate a plasma that can be interrogated with spectroscopy is laser induced break down spectroscopy (LIBS). The analysis of ink and paper is also possible because of the surface removal effect of laser interactions with the samples. In the present study, printing inks were analyzed using LIBS, LA-ICP-MS and both of them in tandem mode. In the tandem setup, the light generated during the relaxation of the excited species (LIBS) was used to create a spectral signature of the elements, and the mass-to-charge ratio of the ejected particles (ICP-MS) was used to create a mass spectrum. For a set of 319 printing ink samples, LA-ICP-MS alone provided discrimination greater than 99%. A subset of 43 printing inks, having a very similar elemental profile, was analyzed by tandem LIBS/LA-ICP-MS. The fusion of LIBS and LA-ICP-MS provided additional discrimination through the detection of elements like Ca, Si, Fe, and K by LIBS, that are difficult to detect and confirm using standalone ICP-MS because of the spectral interferences (isobaric and polyatomic) involved. The combination of these two sensors was found to minimize the individual limitations and provide a more complete and representative chemical characterization of printing inks.

Glass is a common form of trace evidence found at many scenes of crimes in the form of small fragments. These glass fragments can transfer to surrounding objects and/or persons and may provide forensic investigators valuable information to link a suspect to the scene of a crime. Since the elemental composition of different glass sources can be very similar, a highly discriminating technique is required to distinguish between fragments that have originated from different sources. The research presented here demonstrates that Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a viable analytical technique for the association and discrimination of glass fragments. The first part of this research describes the optimization of the LIBS experiments including the use of different laser wavelengths to investigate laser-material interaction. The use of a 266 nm excitation laser provided the best analytical figures of merit with minimal damage to the sample. The resulting analytical figures of merit are presented. The second part of this research evaluated the sensitivity of LIBS to associate or discriminate float glass samples originating from the same manufacturing plants and produced at approximately the same time period. Two different sample sets were analyzed ranging in manufacturing dates from days to years apart. Eighteen (18) atomic emission lines corresponding to the elements Sr, K, Fe, Ca, Al, Ba, Na, Mg and Ti, were chosen because of their detection above the method detection limits and for presenting differences between the samples. Ten elemental ratios producing the most discrimination were selected for each set. When all the ratios are combined in a comparison, 99% of the possible pairs were discriminated using the optimized LIBS method generating typical analytical precisions of ~5% RSD. The final study consisted of the development of a new approach for the use of LIBS as a quantitative analysis of ultra-low volume solution analysis using aerosols and microdrops. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy demonstrated to be an effective technique for the analysis of as low as 90 pL for microdrop LIBS with 1 pg absolute LOD and 20 µL for aerosol LIBS with an absolute LOD of ~100 fg.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to design a compact spectrometer with a transmission grating and a shiftable spectral range for the method of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The work in the theoretical part contains a basic description of spectroscopy and spectroscopic methods of LIBS, spectrometer and its individual parts. The practical part describes the spectrometer design procedure, introduces selected components and comments on the reason for their selection. Selected components are assembled into the final form of a spectrometer, which is further tested with the help of a simulation program to confirm its functionality. The result of the work is a comprehensive overview of the individual components of the spectrometer, aspects of its construction together with instructions and advice on its assembly, along with an example in the form of a designed set of commonly available catalog components.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFChristopher T. Mandrell, for the Master of Science degree in Physics, presented on April 8, 2020, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.TITLE: IMPROVING SPECTRAL ANALYSIS WITH THE APPLICATION OF MACHINE LEARNING: STUDY OF LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY (LIBS) AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY WITH CLASSIFICATION AND CLUSTERING TECHNIQUESMAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Poopalasingam SivakumarAtomic and molecular spectroscopy, in the form of LIBS emissions and Raman scattering, respectively, are tools that provide a vast amount of information with little to no sample preparation. For this reason, these techniques are finding their way into a wide range of fields. However, each spectrum is notoriously complicated to analyze, with many complex interactions at play. Machine learning is the result of work on artificial intelligence. It provides tools to train a computer to look for connections in complex data sets that would likely be missed, or not even looked for, by other analytical methods. The combination of highly informative yet complex data with an analysis that is specifically designed to probe highly complex data for meaningful information is a logical step in the analysis of these spectra. Here we apply statistical analysis and classification algorithms to Raman spectra of pancreatic cancer cells and clustering algorithms to LIBS spectra of Mars Curiosity Rover simulants and Raman spectra of Mars Perseverance Rover simulants. We report here high accuracy in the classification of different types of pancreatic cancer cells, and informative clustering of the two Mars rovers’ simulant data.

The aim of this work is to investigate the potential of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for identification of visually unrecognizable braking tracks. Identification of these tracks is based on different chemical composition of tire tread in comparison to road surface. The investigation was divided in several sequential steps – selection of suitable chemical element and its spectral line for break tracks identification; determination of the limits of detection and threshold intensity respectively for the selected chemical element; verification of LIBS ability to detect braking tracks on a real braking track. This testing braking track was prepared by exactly defined and described conditions. The detection was performed in two ways – laboratory analysis of tire treads particles collected via adhesive tape and in situ analysis via mobile apparatus. Results of both measurements showed that LIBS is able to detect visually unrecognizable braking tracks. Concepts of the devices capable of routine braking tracks identification for both possibilities were introduced.