Ce travail porte sur le fractionnement des produits de fission et les actinides mineurs (simulées par des terres rares) dans une vitrocéramique borosilicate riche en molybdène contenant des cristallites de powellite (CaMoO4) étudié par techniques d'analyse élémentaire (LIBS, LA-ICP-MS, et l'EMPA). Il a été montré que des terres rares et Sr (émetteur bêta) sont incorporés préférentiellement dans la phase powellite, tandis que Al, Fe, Zr, Zn et Cs (sources bêta-decay) restent dans le verre. Le comportement de monocristaux orientés de powellite dopé en terres rares (simulants des actinides mineurs) sous irradiations est décrit et commenté afin de comprendre son comportement à long terme dans des conditions de stockage, en utilisant l'interférométrie optique, la spectroscopie Raman, TEM, et la spectroscopie de photoluminescence. On observe que l'irradiation induit un gonflement dans powellite augmentant avec la dose d'irradiation (de 0,012 à 1,2 dpa). La saturation est atteinte à 1,2 dpa. Une contrainte anisotrope associée à un changement du volume de la maille dans le monocristal de powellite a été mis en évidence et analysée par suivi de la position des raies v1 (Ag) et v3 (Eg) des modes Raman. Le désordre induit dans la structure de powellite irradiée est signé par l'augmentation de la largeur des raies Raman. La caractérisation fine par TEM indique que les dommages structuraux induits dans la powellite irradiée suivent l'évolution suivante de la structure cristalline : défauts ponctuels, dislocations, mosaïcité. Il a été confirmé à la fois par Raman et par TEM que la structure powellite résiste fortement à l'irradiation et n'atteint jamais l'état d'amorphisation dans la gamme dpa étudiée (0,012 à 5,0) / The fractionation of fission products and minor actinides (simulated by rare-earth elements) is studied in a Morich borosilicate glass-ceramic containing powellite (CaMoO4) crystallites, using elemental analysis techniques (LIBS, LA-ICPMS, and EMPA). For Mo-rich borosilicate glass-ceramic containing powellite crystallites, it was suggested that rare earth elements and Sr (beta-decay source) are prone to incorporate into the powellite phase, while Al, Fe, Zr et Cs (beta-decay source) and Zn remain in the glass matrix. The behavior of rare-earth (surrogates of radioactive minor actinides) doped powellite single crystal under irradiations figure out its longterm behavior in storage conditions, using optical interferometry, Raman spectroscopy, TEM, and luminescent spectroscopy. It is observed that the irradiation-induced swelling in powellite first increased with irradiation dose (0.012 to 1.2 dpa), then reached saturation after 1.2 dpa Anisotropic stress and lattice volume change induced by irradiation in powellite single crystal were found and analyzed by determining the peak position of V1 (Ag) et V3 (Eg) Raman modes. Structure disorder of irradiated powellite in medium-range order was represented by the Raman linewidth broadening. According to the TEM characterization, the structural damages of irradiated powellite followed an evolution of crystalline structure, point defects, dislocations, mosaicity. It was confirmed by both Raman and TEM that powellite resisted strongly and never reached amorphization within the studied dpa range (0.012 to 5.0)

La spectroscopie de plasma induit par laser, ou LIBS (acronyme anglais de Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) est une technique d'analyse élémentaire basée sur l'émission d'un plasma issu de l'interaction laser-matière. Elle permet en principe une détection de l'ensemble des éléments du tableau périodique avec une sensibilité typiquement de l'ordre du ppm et ce sur tout type de matériaux : solides, liquides ou gazeux. Sa capacité à exploiter aussi bien le signal élémentaire que moléculaire en fait un candidat crédible à l'identification des matériaux organiques, par exemple dans le domaine du tri des déchets plastiques où les techniques d'analyses usuelles peinent à remplir toutes les contraintes liées à cette question. Cependant, le plasma induit par laser est un phénomène transitoire et correspondant à un milieu inhomogène parfois difficile à maitriser, notamment en comparaison avec un plasma à couplage inductif. En conséquence, la LIBS reste aujourd'hui marginale dans les applications où une information fiable et souvent quantitative est requise. Ce travail doctoral, fruit d'un partenariat entre le CRITT Matériaux Alsace et l'Institut Lumière Matière de Lyon dans le cadre 'un financement CIFRE, se propose d'étudier ces deux problématiques. Un nouvel instrument LIBS est tout d'abord présenté. Articulé autour de nombreux outils de contrôle pilotés par un logiciel dédié, il a permis de limiter considérablement les fluctuations du signal LIBS liées aux divers paramètres impliqués dans le processus d'ablation laser (énergie du laser, position de l'échantillon, position de la détection…). L'efficacité de cet instrument est montrée à travers une étude de quantification d'éléments en trace dans des matrices de verre / Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an analytical technique based on the emission of a plasma arising from the laser-matter interaction. All the elements of the periodic table can be detected with a detection limit close to the ppm, regardless of the nature of sample: solid, liquid or gas. LIBS can perform elemental as well as molecular analysis, which makes it a trustworthy technique for the identification of organic materials, especially with reference to plastic waste sorting where the established techniques experience some difficulties to fulfill all the requirements of this issue. Nevertheless, the laser-induced plasma is a transient and inhomogeneous process regularly hard to master in comparison with an inductively coupled plasma. As a consequence, LIBS technique still remains marginal for the applications demanding a reliable and frequently quantitative information. This doctoral research, which falls within the framework of a partnership between the CRITT Matériaux Alsace and the Institut Lumière Matière in Lyon, proposes to examine the two issues mentioned above. A new LIBS instrument is first given. It is organized around several monitoring tools driven by a dedicated software which allowed us to considerably reduce the fluctuations of the LIBS signal coming from the different factors involved in the process of laser ablation (laser energy, sample and detection positions, etc…). The efficiency of this new LIBS instrument is then illustrated through the example of the quantification of trace elements in glass matrices

The subject of this diploma thesis is the study of a sample position influence on results of an experiment in laser spectroscopy. The aim is to design an appropriate way for standardization of signal obtained at different conditions with the respect to its applicability for stand-off analysis. In the theoretical part of the diploma thesis there are the basics of LIBS method described together with the issues of stand-off experiment and both, basic and advanced approches for the processing and correction of obtained spectra. Also the experiment is designed here, which is used for the analysis of the sample inclination and distance influence on the detected signal. The choice of appropriate ways for the signal correction follows and their applicability and efficiency is then experimentally tested.

This diploma thesis deals with using laser-induced breakdown plasma spectroscopy for determining the elemental structure of unknown samples. It was necessary to design an appropriate method to qualify material by laser-induced emission spectrum. Pretreatment of data and using a variety of chemometrics methods had to be done in order to qualify the structure of elements. We achieved a required solution by projecting the data to a new PCA space, creating clusters and computing the Euclidean distance between each cluster. The experiment in the practical part was set to detect an interface of two elements. We created a data file simulating the ablation on the interface. This data set was gradually processed applying a mathematical-chemical-physical view. Several data procedures have been compiled: approximation by Lorenz, Gauss and Voigt function and also a pretreatment method such as the detection of outliers, standardization by several procedures and subsequent use of principal components analysis. A summarization of processes for input data is fully described in the thesis.

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá návrhem optomechanického modulu pro chemické mapování metodou spektroskopie laserem buzeného plazmatu (LIBS). Cílem je vyvinout modul, který bude umožňovat analýzu spektrálních čar zinku v ultrafialové (UV) oblasti. V práci jsou popsány teoretické základy metody LIBS a následně je provedena rešerše zaměřená na problematiku dálkové LIBS analýzy. V diplomové práci jsou prezentovány možné optické návrhy fokusační a sběrné optiky, z nichž jsou vybrané následně otestovány. Výsledkem práce je konstrukční návrh modulu.

La spectroscopie de plasma induit par laser (En anglais LIBS: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) est une méthode analytique de spectroscopie d'émission optique qui utilise un plasma induit par laser comme source de vaporisation, d'atomisation et d'excitation. Bien que la LIBS ait démontré sa polyvalence et ses caractéristiques attrayantes dans de nombreux domaines, les aspects quantitatifs de la LIBS sont considérés comme son talon d'Achille. D'un point de vue fondamental, cela peut être dû à la nature complexe du plasma induit par laser comme source d'émission spectroscopique. La caractérisation temporelle et spatiale du plasma induit par laser est considérée comme l'un des points clés pour comprendre les fondements de la technique LIBS. D'autre part, la LIBS est habituellement caractérisée par l'utilisation d'une ablation laser directe, sans traitement préalable de l'échantillon. Cela pourrait être assez limitant en particulier pour certains types de matériaux tels que des poudres ou des liquides. Une préparation adéquate ou un traitement approprié de l'échantillon permettant le dépôt d'un film mince et homogène de l'échantillon sur une surface métallique pourrait grandement augmenter le potentiel de la LIBS en vue d'obtenir de meilleures performances analytiques, et notamment une meilleure sensibilité et un effet de matrice réduit. On parle alors de LIBS assistée par surface car la matrice métallique contribue à une augmentation de la température du plasma. Le présent travail de thèse est donc motivé par deux aspects importants de la technique LIBS: la connaissance du plasma induit par laser comme source d'émission spectroscopique, et de nouvelles méthodes de préparation des échantillons pour améliorer la performance analytique de la LIBS, notamment pour des échantillons comme poudres et liquides visqueux. La première partie de cette thèse (chapitre 2) est consacrée à la caractérisation du plasma induit sur des échantillons de verre, en fonction de la longueur d'onde du laser, infrarouge (IR) ou ultraviolet (UV), et du gaz ambiant, de l'air ou de l'argon. L'imagerie spectroscopique et la spectroscopie d'émission résolue en temps et en espace sont utilisées pour le diagnostic du plasma. La deuxième partie de cette thèse est de développer des méthodes de préparation d'échantillons, déposés sur des surfaces métalliques pour l'analyse LIBS de poudres ainsi que de vins comme exemples de liquide. Au chapitre 3, nous avons appliqué la LIBS pour l'analyse quantitative dans des poudres (exemples de poudres : cellulose, alumine ainsi que de la terre). Au chapitre 4, nous avons appliqué la LIBS pour la classification des vins français selon leurs régions de production. Deux modèles de classification basées sur l'analyse des composants principaux (PCA) et la forêt aléatoire (RF) sont utilisés pour la classification. A l'aide de ces applications, ce travail de thèse démontre l'efficacité de la méthode LIBS assistée par surface pour l'analyse de poudres (cellulose, alumine et sols) et de liquides (vins), avec une limite de détection dans l'ordre de ou sous la ppm et une réduction significative de l'effet de matrice / Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an analytical method with optical emission spectroscopy that uses a laser pulse to vaporize, atomize, and excite a hot plasma as the spectroscopic emission source. Although LIBS has demonstrated its versatility and attractive features in many fields, the quantitative analysis ability of LIBS is considered as its Achilles’ heel. From a fundamental point of view, this can be due to the complex nature of laserinduced plasma as the spectroscopic emission source for LIBS application. The temporal and spatial characterization of laser-induced plasma is considered as one of the key points for the LIBS technique. On the other hand, from the analytical point of view, LIBS is usually characterized by direct laser ablation. This can be however quite limiting, especially for some types of materials such as powders or liquids. Proper sample preparation or treatment allowing the deposition of a thin homogeneous film on a metallic surface could greatly improve the analytical performance of LIBS for these types of materials. Since the metallic surface is expected to contribute to increase the temperature and the density of the plasma and, consequently, to a better overall sensitivity, we call this technique surface-assisted LIBS. The present thesis work is therefore motivated by two basic aspects of LIBS analysis: the need of an improved knowledge of laser-induced plasma as a spectroscopic emission source, and new methods to improve the analytical performance of LIBS, including a higher sensibility and a reduced matrix effect. The first part of this thesis (Chapter 2) is dedicated to an extensive characterization of the plasma induced on glass samples, as a function of the laser wavelength, infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV), and the ambient gas, air or argon. Both the spectroscopic imaging and time- and space-resolved emission spectroscopy are used for plasma diagnostics in this work. The second part of this thesis is to develop a surface-assisted LIBS method for the elemental analysis in powders, and in wines as examples of liquids. We applied the surface-assisted LIBS for the quantitative elemental analysis in cellulose powders, alumina powders, and soils (Chapter 3). Special attentions are paid on the figures-of-merit, matrix effects, and normalization approaches in LIBS analysis. We also used the surfaceassisted LIBS for the classification of French wines according to their production regions (Chapter 4). Two classification models based on the principal component analysis (PCA) and random forest (RF) are used for the classification. Through these applications, this thesis work demonstrates the efficiency of the surface-assisted LIBS method for the analysis of powders (cellulose, alumina and soils) and of liquids (wines), with ppm or sub-ppm sensitivities and a reduced matrix effect

La spectroscopie de plasma induit par laser ou LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy)est aujourd’hui utilisée dans de nombreux secteurs d’activités du fait des atouts qu’ellepossède. Cette technologie permet de caractériser la composition élémentaired’échantillons quel que soit leur phase (gaz, solide et liquide), rapidement (10-6s), de façon insitu et sans contact, et à pression et température ambiantes. Ces caractéristiques présententun intérêt pour des applications militaires de détection de traces d’agents chimiquescontaminant une surface. L’objectif de cette étude est d’étudier le potentiel de cettetechnologie afin de détecter les espèces chimiques présentes dans les agents réels, tels quele phosphore, le fluor, le chlore et le soufre sur des surfaces d’échantillons polluésreprésentatifs de milieux opérationnels. Pour améliorer les performances analytiques de latechnique LIBS classique à simple impulsion, la configuration double impulsion estdéveloppée et comparée à la méthode simple impulsion. Son principe repose sur l’envoisuccessif de deux impulsions laser résolues générant au point focal un plasma thermique serelaxant in fine en émettant des raies spécifiques de la composition élémentaire. Les gainsanalytiques, ainsi que les limites de détection sont évalués pour plusieurs typesd’échantillons représentatifs. Une comparaison avec les seuils de détection attendus estétablie. / Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is currently used in many fields of activity,thanks to its numerous uses. This technology allows fast measurement (10-6 s), with in situconfiguration, at ambient pressure and temperature, of different samples in gaseous, liquidor solid phase. These performances present a high interest for military applications to detectchemical agent traces on surfaces. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of thistechnology in the detection of specific chemical atoms of live agents such as phosphorus,fluorine, chlorine, and sulfur on the surface of contaminated samples representing thetheatre. In order to improve the analytical performances of classical technical LIBS of singlepulse, a double pulse method was developed and compared to single pulse method. Itsprinciple is based on the emission of two successive laser impulsions resolved in space andtime, generating in the focal point thermal plasma which relaxes in fine emitting specificradiation of the elementary composition. The analytical gains, as for detection thresholdsare evaluated for each type of samples. A comparison of the detection thresholds isestablished.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo aplicar a análise dos anéis de crescimento de espécies arbóreas no monitoramento ambiental de uma área urbana com histórico de poluição atmosférica. Foram selecionadas árvores das espécies Caesalpinia pluviosa var. peltophoroides (Fabaceae-Caesalpinaceae) e Tabebuia pentaphylla (Bignoniaceae) e, do seu tronco, foram extraídas amostras do lenho através do método não destrutivo. A área de estudo selecionada foi o Distrito Industrial de Betel, município de Paulínia/SP, Brasil, cujo histórico de poluição ambiental de origem antropogênica é fornecido pela Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental (CETESB) e através de estudos recentes encontrados na literatura especializada. Ainda, foram selecionas três outras áreas, nos municípios de Paulínia e Piracicaba, distantes em 10, 15 e 60 km, estabelecendo-se um gradiente ambiental de pressão antrópica. Foram aplicadas as análises: (i) caracterização anatômica macro e microscópica e densitometria de raios X, na identificação dos anéis de crescimento do lenho, (ii) dendrocronológica, na datação e avaliação do crescimento radial das árvores, (iii) climática, no estudo da influência dos fatores climáticos no crescimento anual das árvores e (iv) química, na determinação da composição de macro e micronutrientes e de elementos potencialmente tóxicos nos anéis de crescimento do lenho, através da aplicação das técnicas analíticas espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma induzido por laser (LIBS) e espectrometria de emissão óptica por plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP OES). Os resultados indicaram que, para as duas espécies, os anéis de crescimento possuem características anatômicas marcantes, correlacionadas com os valores de densidade aparente, que possibilitam a determinação da idade das árvores. A análise das séries temporais de largura de anéis de crescimento demonstrou que as árvores apresentam crescimento sincrônico, condicionado as condições específicas do ambiente onde estão crescendo. A constatação da ausência de um sinal climático comum determinando o crescimento das árvores nos 3 sítios sugere a influência de outros fatores, entre eles, a proximidade em que as árvores se encontram em relação às fontes estacionárias de poluição atmosférica, verificada através dos valores de incremento radial obtidos, sempre menores para as árvores localizadas no Distrito de Betel. A análise da composição química dos anéis de crescimento (ICP OES) revelou diferenças na absorção de elementos químicos entre as árvores das duas espécies e também entre as árvores da mesma espécie crescendo em diferentes locais. Ainda, a avaliação dos valores de intensidade das linhas de emissão dos analitos identificou padrões temporais de fixação de elementos químicos no lenho, com tendência comum para alguns, nos sítios de menor influência antrópica. Também, evidenciou os períodos de maior fixação de elementos com potencial tóxico no troco das árvores (ex. Al, B, Cu, Fe e Na), relacionados com os anos do início das atividades indústrias no Distrito de Betel. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo permitiram concluir que a análise dos anéis de crescimento das árvores de C. pluviosa e T. pentaphylla possui grande potencial no monitoramento ambiental. / This study aims to apply tree rings analysis on environmental monitoring of an urban area with air pollution history. Caesalpinia pluviosa var. peltophoroides (Fabaceae- Caesalpinaceae) and Tabebuia pentaphylla (Bignoniaceae) trees were selected and wood samples were extracted from their trunk by a non-destructive method. The study area was the Industrial District of Bethel, Paulínia, São Paulo State, Brazil. Its environmental pollution history of anthropogenic origin is provided by the Company of Environmental Sanitation Technology (CETESB) and by recent studies of specialized literature. Three other areas in the municipalities of Paulínia and Piracicaba were also selected, establishing an environmental gradient of anthropogenic pressure within 10, 15 and 60 km distance. The following analyses were applied: (i) macro and microscopic anatomical characterization and X-ray densitometry, for tree rings limits identification (ii) dendrochronological, in dating and evaluating of radial growth, (iii) climatic, analyzing the climatic factors influence on annual growth and (iv) chemical, determining the composition of macro and micronutrients and potentially toxic elements in the tree rings through the application of the analytical techniques Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The results indicated that tree rings formed in both species have remarkable anatomical features correlated with apparent density values, enabling the determination of tree age. The analysis of tree rings\' width time series showed that trees exhibit synchronous growth, conditioned by the specificities of the environment where they are growing. The verification of an absent common climate signal determining the tree growth among the 3 studied sites suggests the influence of other factors, including the proximity of trees in relation to stationary sources of air pollution, verified through the obtained values of radial increment, always lower for trees located in the District of Bethel. The tree rings chemical composition analysis (ICP OES) revealed differences in the absorption of chemical elements among trees species and among individuals of the same species growing in different locations. The emission lines intensities assessment (LIBS) analysis identified temporal patterns of chemical elements fixation in wood, with a common trend for those located at sites with lower anthropogenic influence. It also showed periods of increased fixation of potentially toxic elements in tree trunk (e.g Al, B, Cu, Fe, and Na), related to the early years of industrial activities in the District of Bethel. The results obtained in this study allowed us to conclude that the tree rings analysis of C. pluviosa and T. pentaphylla has great potential for environmental monitoring.

A espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma induzido por laser (LIBS) constitui um método alternativo para a determinação simultânea de macro e micronutrientes em pastilhas de materiais vegetais. No entanto, pouca informação com relação às condições de fluência e de focalização do laser mais apropriadas para a análise de pastilhas de materiais vegetais são disponíveis na literatura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da fluência, do diâmetro de focalização do laser e do tamanho das partículas das amostras nas análises de pastilhas de tecidos vegetais por LIBS. O arranjo experimental foi composto por um laser pulsado de Nd:YAG a 1064 nm (pulsos de 5 n\'delta\', 360 mJ, 10 Hz) e os sinais de emissão foram coletados por um telescópio acoplado por fibra óptica ao espectrômetro Echelle com detector ICCD. Os parâmetros instrumentais foram ajustados em 20 pulsos acumulados, 2,0 \'mü\'s de atraso e 5,0 \'mü\'s de integração. Amostras laboratoriais consistiram de pastilhas preparadas com folhas moídas criogenicamente (90 % das partículas < 50 \'mü\'m). Maiores intensidades das linhas Ca I 442,554, Mg I 277,983, P I 213,618, Al I 309,271, B I 249,773, Cu I 324,755, Fe II 261,187, Mn II 257,610 e Zn II 206,200 nm foram obtidas com fluências entre 35 e 60 J cm-2 e diâmetros de focalização entre 600 e 1050 \'mü\'m. O uso de fluências e diâmetros de focalização maiores concorreu para melhorar os coeficientes de variação (CV) das medidas. Fixando-se o diâmetro de focalização em 750 \'mü\'m, observou-se que, para a maioria dos analíticos, o CV das medidas foi reduzido 2 vezes quando a fluência foi alterada de 20 para 50 J cm-2. Nestas condições, estes resultados foram atribuídos à maior massa removida e, conseqüentemente, à amostragem mais representativa. Os coeficientes angulares das curvas de calibração também aumentaram quando a fluência foi acrescida. No entanto, não foram verificadas diferenças significativas nos coeficientes de correlação das curvas de calibração e nos limites de detecção empregando-se 25 e 50 J cm-2. Embora as intensidades dos sinais de emissão aumentem com a fluência, a emissão de fundo também aumenta. Por outro lado, o tamanho das partículas das amostras afeta as eficiências de atomização e excitação no plasma induzido por laser. Quando partículas maiores são parcialmente vaporizadas, os sinais de emissão resultantes dos processos de atomização e excitação das espécies constituintes são menores do que os provenientes de partículas menores. Nesta dissertação, melhorias significativas da intensidade dos sinais de emissão e dos CVs das medidas foram observados quando pastilhas preparadas com partículas < 75 \'mü\'m foram analisadas. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas nas intensidades dos sinais de emissão e no CV das medidas nas análises de pastilhas preparadas com partículas entre 20 e 75 \'mü\'m. Pastilhas preparadas com partículas > 75 \'mü\'m apresentaram problemas de coesão e, após ablação, apresentaram crateras não uniformes. A análise destas pastilhas resultou em CV das medidas geralmente > 15 %. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho confirmaram que é recomendável utilizar amostras de calibração e amostras-teste com distribuição do tamanho das partículas semelhante para evitar efeitos físicos de matriz, que alteram as interações laser-amostra / Most recently, it was demonstrated that laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) constitutes an alternative for the simultaneous determination of macro- and micronutrients in pellets of plant materials. However, there is no information regarding the most appropriate fluence and laser focusing for analysis of pellets of plant materials. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of laser focusing and fluence on LIBS analysis of plants. The effect of particle size on LIBS analysis of pellets of plant materials as well as sample preparation approaches were also discussed. The experimental setup was designed by using a Q-switch Nd:YAG laser (5 n\'delta\', 360 mJ, 10 Hz, _ \'lâmbda\' = 1064 nm) and the emission signals were collected by lenses into an optical fiber coupled to an echelle spectrometer equipped with a high-resolution ICCD. Instrumental parameters consisted of 20 accumulated laser pulses, 2.0 \'mü\'s delay time and 5.0 \'mü\'s integration time gate. Pellets prepared from cryogenically ground plant leaves (90 % particles < 50 \'mü\'m; median = 10 \'mü\'m) were used as laboratory samples and 6 laser spot diameters (from 180 to 1050 \'mü\'m) at different laser fluences were evaluated. Results indicate that elements emission intensities increased with both laser fluence and spot diameter. Higher intensities for Ca I 442.554, Mg I 277.983, P I 213.618, Al I 309.271, B I 249.773, Cu I 324.755, Fe II 261.187, Mn II 257.610, and Zn II 206.200 nm emission lines were observed with fluences in the 35 - 60 J cm-2 range and spot diameters between 600 and 1050 \'mü\'m. Higher spot diameters improved mass removal and minimized repeatability drawbacks. It was observed that the coefficients of variation (CV) of site-to-site measurements decreased by using higher laser focusing diameters. By fixing the laser spot diameter at 750 \'mü\'m, the CV of measurements improved at least 2-fold for all analytes when 50 J cm-2 was applied in comparison to 20 J cm-2. These results can be attributed to a larger mass removal obtained at higher laser fluences and better laser sampling representativeness. Sensitivity did also increase with laser fluence but no significant differences were observed in the detection limits using 25 and 50 J cm-2. Although emission intensities increased with laser fluence the background emission and noise increased as well. On the other hand, particle size distribution of powdered samples affects the atomization and excitation efficiencies by laser induced plasmas. When larger particles are incompletely vaporized the resulting emission signals were lower than those obtained from smaller particles. In this work, significant improvements on emission intensities and CV of measurements were observed when pellets made with particles < 75 \'mü\'m were analyzed. No significant differences were observed (emission intensities and CV of measurements) in the analysis of pellets prepared with particles in the 20-75 \'mü\'m range. Pellets prepared with particles > 75 \'mü\'m presented cohesion drawbacks and resulted non uniform craters after laser ablation. The CV of measurements for most analytes in these materials was > 15 %. Therefore, similar particle size distribution between calibration and test samples is recommended to avoid physical matrix effects on laser-sample interaction

A cultura da cana-de-açúcar no Brasil é uma das atividades mais relevantes na agroindústria nacional devido ao alto potencial de produção e elevada importância econômica de seus subprodutos como e.g. açúcar e etanol. Embora o Si não seja considerado um elemento essencial, a adubação silicatada tem proporcionado aumentos apreciáveis na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar e na resistência a algumas pragas e doenças. Ainda não existem métodos bem estabelecidos para a determinação de Si em material vegetal visando à diagnose foliar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um método para determinação de Si em pastilhas de folhas de cana-de-açúcar por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma induzido por laser (LIBS). O arranjo experimental foi composto por um laser pulsado de Nd:YAG a 1064 nm (pulsos de 5 ns, 360 mJ, 10 Hz) e os sinais de emissão foram coletados por um telescópio acoplado por fibra óptica ao espectrômetro Echelle com detector ICCD. Amostras laboratoriais consistiram de pastilhas preparadas com folhas de cana-de-açúcar moídas criogenicamente por 40 min. Melhores resultados foram obtidos quando a linha de emissão Si I 212,412 nm foi selecionada e os parâmetros instrumentais foram ajustados em 25 pulsos acumulados, 50 J cm-2, diâmetro de focalização de 750 \'mü\'m, 2,0 \'mü\'s de atraso e 4,5 \'mü\'s de integração. Os resultados obtidos por LIBS na análise de pastilhas de 20 amostras laboratoriais foram comparados com os obtidos por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP OES) após decomposição alcalina e por espectrometria de micro-fluorescência de raio-X por energia dispersiva (\'mü\'ED-XRF) após análise direta das pastilhas. Aplicando-se o teste t de Student pareado, não foram verificadas diferenças significativas ao nível de 95% de confiança nas determinações de Si por LIBS, ICP OES e \'mü\'ED-XRF. Os resultados obtidos nesta tese indicam a viabilidade de LIBS para determinação direta de Si em pastilhas de folhas de cana-de-açúcar e abrem uma expectativa para futuras explorações de LIBS em análises em campo / The high production of sugarcane and its subproducts (e.g. sugar and ethanol fuel) make this crop one of the most important for the Brazilian agro-industrial economy. Although Si is not considered an essential element, the Si-based fertilizers have provided considerable improvement in productivity of sugarcane and resistance to some pests and diseases. At moment, there are no well-established methods for the determination of Si in plant materials aiming at nutritional diagnosis. The aim of this work was to develop a method for Si determination in pellets of sugarcane leaves by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The experimental setup was designed by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (5 ns, 360 mJ, 10 Hz, \'lâmbda\' = 1064 nm) and the emission signals were collected by lenses into an optical fiber coupled to an Echelle spectrometer equipped with an ICCD. Pellets prepared from cryogenically ground sugarcane leaves were used as laboratory samples. Best results were obtained when the Si I 212.412 nm emission line was selected and the instrumental parameters were adjusted at 25 laser shots, 50 J cm-2, 750 \'mü\'m laser spot size, 2.0 \'mü\'s delay time and 4.5 \'mü\'s integration time gate. The results obtained by LIBS in the analysis of pellets of 20 laboratory samples were compared with those from inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after alkaline digestion and by microenergy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (\'mü\'ED-XRF) after direct analysis of pellets. By applying a paired t-test at 95 % confidence level, there was no significant difference in the Si determination by LIBS, ICP OES and \'mü\'ED-XRF. The findings of this thesis indicate the feasibility of LIBS for the direct determination of Si in pellets of sugarcane leaves and open expectations for future investigations of LIBS for field analysis