Research progress and challenges of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology in the field of marine exploration

Abstract

As the largest ecosystem on earth, the ocean contains abundant biological, mineral, and renewable energy resources, which are crucial for human survival and development. However, with the increasing demand for marine resources, existing marine exploration technologies face multiple challenges. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology is highly anticipated in the field of marine exploration due to its advantages of wide detection range, fast speed, minimal sample damage, and non-contact in-situ detection. LIBS technology can monitor the elemental composition of seawater, seabed sediments, and marine organisms in real-time, providing a scientific basis for the rational development of marine resources and environmental protection. However, the application of LIBS technology in the marine field also faces challenges such as limitations in underwater laser transmission characteristics, complexity of marine environments, complexity of marine samples, and limitations in systematization, integration, and miniaturization technologies. To overcome these challenges, researchers have conducted in-depth research on the physical mechanisms, integrated systems, data analysis methods, and applications of LIBS technology. This article reviews the research, application, and development of LIBS technology in ocean exploration in the past decade, and looks forward to its future development potential.