Rapid and ultra-sensitive trace metals detection of water by partial Leidenfrost superhydrophobic array surface enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Zhen Li; Dehua Zhu; Yu Cao; Zhuode Gao; Chongyang Zhang; Fang Zhao; Wei Xue

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125832

Rapid and ultra-sensitive trace metals detection of water by partial Leidenfrost superhydrophobic array surface enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Talanta. 2024 Jun 1:273:125832. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125832. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Authors

Zhen Li¹, Dehua Zhu², Yu Cao³, Zhuode Gao¹, Chongyang Zhang¹, Fang Zhao⁴, Wei Xue⁵

Affiliations

¹ China International Science & Technology Cooperation Base for Laser Processing Robotics, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Processing Robotics, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
² China International Science & Technology Cooperation Base for Laser Processing Robotics, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Processing Robotics, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
³ Ruian Graduate College, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325206, China.
⁴ China International Science & Technology Cooperation Base for Laser Processing Robotics, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Processing Robotics, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China. Electronic address: zhaofang@wzu.edu.cn.
⁵ Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: xw@wzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38442562
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125832

Abstract

The rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of trace elements in liquid is a primary concern for researchers. In this study, a partial Leidenfrost effect superhydrophobic (PLSHB) array surface was used for rapid in situ evaporation enrichment of sample droplets. Within 4 min, a 50 μL droplet sample was completely evaporated, resulting in all solutes in it being concentrated within a circular range measuring approximately 350 μm in diameter, without the formation of a coffee ring structure. The limits of detection for six metals (Pb, Ba, Be, Mn, Cr, Cu) in water were determined to be as follows: 0.82 μgL^-1, 0.27 μgL^-1, 0.033 μgL^-1, 0.136 μgL^-1, 0.241 μgL^-1, and 0.083 μgL^-1. Furthermore, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to detect the enriched solutes from ten liquid samples with identical concentrations on the PLSHB array surface; these measurements exhibited a relative standard deviation (RSD) of only 3.7%. Spike experiments involving the addition of the aforementioned six metals into drinking water demonstrated recovery rates ranging from 85.7% to 117.7%. Therefore, the application potential of PLSHB array surface enhanced LIBS for rapid, stable, and ultra-sensitive detection and analysis of trace metal elements across various fields such as industry, environmental science, and biomedicine might be highly promising.

Keywords: Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; Liquid sample analysis; Partial Leidenfrost effect; Superhydrophobic array surface; Ultrasensitive.