{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T07:34:17Z","timestamp":1768980857484,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,24]],"date-time":"2024-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708732800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000780","name":"European Commission","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["883116"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["883116"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000780","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this work, we present a compact LIBS sensor developed for characterization of samples on a crime scene following requirements of law enforcement agencies involved in the project. The sensor operates both in a tabletop mode, for aside measurements of swabbed materials or taken fragments, and in handheld mode where the sensor head is pointed directly on targets at the scene. The sensor head is connected via an umbilical to an instrument box that could be battery-powered and contains also a color camera for sample visualization, illumination LEDs, and pointing system for placing the target in focus. Here we describe the sensor\u2019s architecture and functionalities, the optimization of the acquisition parameters, and the results of some LIBS measurements. On nano-plotted traces at silica wafer and in optimized conditions, for most of the elements the detection limits, in term of the absolute element masses, were found to be below 10 picograms. We also show results obtained on some representative materials, like fingerprints, swabbed soil and gunshot residue, varnishes on metal, and coated plastics. The last, solid samples were used to evaluate the depth profiling capabilities of the instrument, where the recognition of all four car paint layers was achieved.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s24051469","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,26]],"date-time":"2024-02-26T03:34:04Z","timestamp":1708918444000},"page":"1469","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["A Novel LIBS Sensor for Sample Examinations on a Crime Scene"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0823-0359","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Violeta","family":"Lazic","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-TECFIS-DIM, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4250-4699","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabrizio","family":"Andreoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-FUSEN-TEN, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8671-9969","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvatore","family":"Almaviva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-TECFIS-DIM, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Pistilli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-TECFIS-DIM, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]},{"given":"Ivano","family":"Menicucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-TECFIS-DIM, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Ulrich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Energetic Materials Department, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Str. 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany"}]},{"given":"Frank","family":"Schn\u00fcrer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Energetic Materials Department, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Str. 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany"}]},{"given":"Roberto","family":"Chirico","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Laboratory FSN-TECFIS-DIM, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Italy"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1366\/11-06574","article-title":"Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Part II: Review of Instrumental and Methodological Approaches to Material Analysis and Applications to Different Fields","volume":"66","author":"Hahn","year":"2012","journal-title":"Appl. Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galb\u00e1cs, G. (2022). Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in Biological, Forensic and Materials Sciences, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-14502-5"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Naozuka, J., and Oliveira, A.P. (2019). Chapter 4: Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in Forensic Sensing, Royal Society of Chemistry.","DOI":"10.1039\/9781788016117-00048"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-anchem-061020-124221","article-title":"Surface Analysis Techniques in Forensic Science: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities for Operational Deployment","volume":"15","author":"Bailey","year":"2022","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scijus.2022.06.001","article-title":"Profiling and imaging of forensic evidence\u2014A pan-European forensic round robin study part 1: Document forgery","volume":"62","author":"Fischer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Justice"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scijus.2015.02.003","article-title":"Fast detection and characterization of organic and inorganic gunshot residues on the hands of suspects by CMV-GC\u2013MS and LIBS","volume":"55","author":"Tarifa","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. Justice"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"884","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2010.08.004","article-title":"Micro-spectrochemical analysis of document paper and gel inks by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy","volume":"65","author":"Trejos","year":"2010","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2014.04.040","article-title":"Assessment and forensic application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the discrimination of Australian window glass","volume":"241","author":"Speers","year":"2014","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4641","DOI":"10.1039\/C4AN00811A","article-title":"Determining the chronology of deposition of natural fingermarks and inks on paper using secondary ion mass spectrometry","volume":"139","author":"Ojeda","year":"2014","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cicconi, F., Lazic, V., Palucci, A., Almeida Assis, A.C., and Romolo, F.S. (2020). Forensic Analysis of Commercial Inks by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Sensors, 20.","DOI":"10.3390\/s20133744"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2012.05.018","article-title":"Composition of fingermark residue: A qualitative and quantitative review","volume":"223","author":"Girod","year":"2012","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10622","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.analchem.9b01843","article-title":"Revealing the Elemental Distribution within Latent Fingermarks Using Synchrotron Sourced X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy","volume":"16","author":"Boseley","year":"2019","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1047","DOI":"10.1177\/0003702818765183","article-title":"Forensic Discrimination of Latent Fingerprints Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Chemometric Approaches","volume":"72","author":"Yang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl. Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lazic, V., Palucci, A., De Dominicis, L., Nuvoli, M., Pistilli, M., Menicucci, I., Colao, F., and Almaviva, S. (2019). Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) for Remote Surface Analysis: Application for Detecting Explosives in Fingerprints. Sensors, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/s19194269"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2013.02.026","article-title":"Recognition of explosives fingerprints on objects for courier services using machine learning methods and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy","volume":"110","author":"Moros","year":"2013","journal-title":"Talanta"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1445","DOI":"10.1039\/c0ja00188k","article-title":"Analysis of explosive residues in human fingerprints using optical catapulting\u2013laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy","volume":"26","author":"Abdelhamid","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Anal. At. Spectrom."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106741","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2023.106741","article-title":"Evolution of LIBS technology to mobile instrumentation for expediting firearm-related investigations at the laboratory and the crime scene","volume":"207","author":"Arroyo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111886","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2023.111886","article-title":"Assessment of gunshot residue detection on a large variety of surfaces by portable LIBS system for crime scene application","volume":"353","year":"2023","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1093\/fsr\/owad022","article-title":"Assessing the shooting distance of lead-free ammunition regardless of composition using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy","volume":"8","year":"2023","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forc.2018.02.006","article-title":"Fast Identification of Inorganic and Organic Gunshot Residues by LIBS and Electrochemical Methods","volume":"8","author":"Trejos","year":"2018","journal-title":"Forensic Chem."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2017.02.012","article-title":"An exploratory study of the potential of LIBS for visualizing gunshot residue patterns","volume":"273","author":"Pisonero","year":"2017","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trac.2023.117197","article-title":"Recent advances in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for explosive analysis","volume":"166","author":"Ding","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trends Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"644","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2011.07.003","article-title":"Detection of explosives in traces by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy: Differences from organic interferents and conditions for a correct classification","volume":"66","author":"Lazic","year":"2011","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.285.1.67","article-title":"Assessment of commercial laboratories performing hair mineral analysis","volume":"285","author":"Seidel","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Am. Med. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6133","DOI":"10.1364\/AO.42.006133","article-title":"Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique to hair tissue mineral analysis","volume":"42","author":"Corsi","year":"2003","journal-title":"Appl. Opt."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nakagawa, M., and Matsuura, Y. (2021). Analysis of Trace Metals in Human Hair by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with a Compact Microchip Laser. Sensors, 21.","DOI":"10.3390\/s21113752"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103798","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medengphy.2022.103798","article-title":"Fast diagnostic of osteoporosis based on hair analysis using LIBS technique","volume":"103","author":"Cherni","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med. Eng. Phys."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147984","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apsusc.2020.147984","article-title":"Quantification of surface contamination on optical glass via sensitivity-improved calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy","volume":"537","author":"Gerhard","year":"2021","journal-title":"Appl. Surf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1961","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-008-2104-y","article-title":"Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy as a tool for discrimination of glass for forensic applications","volume":"391","author":"Gornushkin","year":"2008","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pal\u00e1sti, D.J., Kopniczky, J., V\u00f6r\u00f6s, T., Metzinger, A., and Galb\u00e1cs, G. (2022). Qualitative Analysis of Glass Microfragments Using the Combination of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Refractive Index Data. Sensors, 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/s22083045"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2021.106198","article-title":"Discrimination of automotive glass by conjoint Raman and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis","volume":"180","author":"Merk","year":"2021","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Desiderio, V.J., Taylor, C.E., and Da\u00e9id, N.N. (2020). Handbook of Trace Evidence Analysis, John Wiley & Sons.","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119373438"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6581","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-021-03622-y","article-title":"Identification of 20 polymer types by means of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and chemometrics","volume":"413","author":"Gajarska","year":"2021","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3331","DOI":"10.1007\/s00216-011-4898-2","article-title":"Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for polymer identification","volume":"400","author":"Boudinet","year":"2011","journal-title":"Anal. Bioanal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112789","DOI":"10.1016\/j.marpolbul.2021.112789","article-title":"Identifying microplastic litter with Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A first approach","volume":"171","author":"Sommer","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mar. Pollut. Bull."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116061","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trac.2020.116061","article-title":"Automotive paint analysis: How far has science advanced in the last ten years?","volume":"132","author":"Duarte","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trends Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3477","DOI":"10.1021\/ac1033177","article-title":"Depth Elemental Imaging of Forensic Samples by Confocal micro-XRF Method","volume":"83","author":"Nakano","year":"2011","journal-title":"Anal. Chem."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kr\u00f3licka, A., Maj, A., and \u0141\u00f3j, G. (2023). Application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Depth Profiling of Multilayer and Graded Materials. Materials, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma16206641"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2018.07.012","article-title":"Applications of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for cultural heritage: A comparison with X-ray Fluorescence and Particle Induced X-ray Emission techniques","volume":"149","author":"Lazic","year":"2018","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Singh, J.P., and Thakur, S.N. (2020). Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Elsevier. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Manso, M., Chirico, R., Peltola, J., Engstr\u00f6m, P., Larsson, H., and Berggren, J. (2020, January 2\u20135). The RISEN Project\u2014A Novel Concept for Real-time on-site Forensic Trace Qualification. Proceedings of the 25th ICCRTS\u2014International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium, Southampton, UK. paper 123."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chiuri, A., Chirico, R., Angelini, F., Andreoli, F., Menicucci, I., Nuvoli, M., Cano-Trujillo, C., Montalvo, G., and Lazic, V. (2023). Crime Light Imaging (CLI): A Novel Sensor for Stand-Off Detection and Localization of Forensic Traces. Sensors, 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/s23187736"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sab.2017.09.001","article-title":"Calibration approach for extremely variable laser induced plasmas and a strategy to reduce the matrix effect in general","volume":"137","author":"Lazic","year":"2017","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta Part B"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1039\/b315606k","article-title":"Quantitative laser induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of ancient marbles and corrections for the variability of plasma parameters and of ablation rate","volume":"19","author":"Lazic","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Anal. At. Spectrom."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/24\/5\/1469\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:04:15Z","timestamp":1760105055000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/24\/5\/1469"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,24]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3]]}},"alternative-id":["s24051469"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s24051469","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,24]]}}}