Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

Advancing the use of LIBS mobile technology in shooting reconstructions and firearm-related investigations

NCJ Number

310663

Journal

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

Date Published

August 2025

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

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Assessment of analytical workflows of gunshot residue evidence and strategies for implementation of advanced technology in crime laboratories

NCJ Number

310646

Date Published

2025

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical), Thesis/Dissertation

HTML | PDF

Expanding the Capabilities of Firearm Investigations: Novel Sampling and Analytical Methods for Gunshot Residue Evidence

NCJ Number

310624

Date Published

2022

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical), Thesis/Dissertation

PDF | HTML

Association of Commingled Human Skeletal Remains by Their Elemental Profile Using Handheld Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

NCJ Number

310010

Journal

Forensic Science International

Date Published

November 2024

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Pre-grouping of Commingled Human Skeletal Remains by Elemental Analysis

NCJ Number

309970

Date Published

November 2024

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

PDF

Reassociation of Skeletal Remains Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

NCJ Number

309160

Journal

Analytical Chemistry

Date Published

June 2024

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Assessment of Performance Rates on the Elemental Comparison of Small and Irregular Glass Fragments Using μ-XRF and LIBS

NCJ Number

309079

Journal

Forensic Chemistry

Date Published

May 2024

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Organic Gunshot Residue: Detection, Identification, and Characterization for Forensic Purposes

NCJ Number

308424

Date Published

2022

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical), Thesis/Dissertation

HTML

Evolution of LIBS technology to mobile instrumentation for expediting firearm-related investigations at the laboratory and the crime scene

NCJ Number

307477

Journal

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

Date Published

2023

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Strengthening Scientific Foundations for Advancing Best Practices in the Collection, Storage, Analysis, and Interpretation of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues

15PNIJ-23-GG-04218-SLFO

Open

Funding First Awarded

2023

$564,733

Identification and highly selective differentiation of organic gunshot residues utilizing their elemental and molecular signatures

NCJ Number

307122

Journal

Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy

Date Published

April 2023

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Fast Screening of Gunshot Residue Aims to Modernize Practice

Date Published

December 1, 2022

NIJ-funded researchers create unprecedented gunshot residue dataset to develop a quick, dual-detection method for gunshot residue detection.

Chemical Analysis of Firearm Discharge Residues Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

NCJ Number

304764

Date Published

2019

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Thesis/Dissertation, Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Quantification of SiO2 sintering additive in YAG transparent ceramics by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

NCJ Number

304251

Journal

Optical Materials Express

Date Published

2017

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Quantification of non-stoichiometry in YAG ceramics using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

NCJ Number

304250

Journal

Optical Materials Express

Date Published

2017

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Pre-grouping of commingled human skeletal remains by elemental analysis

15PNIJ-21-GG-04151-SLFO

Past Project Period End Date

Funding First Awarded

2021

$240,594

Assessing the utility of LIBS in the reconstruction of firearm related incidents

NCJ Number

303051

Journal

Forensic Chemistry

Date Published

2020

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Analysis of primer gunshot residue particles by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

NCJ Number

302853

Journal

Analyst

Date Published

September 2021

Agencies

NIJ-Sponsored

Publication Type

Research (Applied/Empirical)

HTML

Comprehensive Assessment of Novel Reference Materials and Analytical Methods for the Analysis and Interpretation of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues

2020-DQ-BX-0010

Past Project Period End Date

Funding First Awarded

2020

$476,517

Fast Screening of Firearm Discharge Residues by Laser-based Spectrochemical Methods, Electrochemical Sensors, and Chemometrics

2018-DU-BX-0186

Closed

Funding First Awarded

2018

$379,394

Characterization of Modern Ammunition and Background Profiles: A Novel Approach and Probabilistic Interpretation of Inorganic Gunshot Residue

2018-R2-CX-0009

Closed

Funding First Awarded

2018

$100,000

Fast and Versatile Forensic Analysis of Ink and Paper with an Easily Operated Laser

Date Published

December 4, 2017

The ability of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instruments to detect practically the entire periodic table of elements very quickly and without the complexity of other systems makes them an economic choice for forensic analysis.

Characterization and comparison of tape evidence using elemental profiling methods and chemometric analyses

2015-DN-BX-K050

Closed

Funding First Awarded

2015

$244,072

LIBS for Soil Screening Study of Matrix Effects on Elemental Profiling

2013-DN-BX-K006

Closed

Funding First Awarded

2013

$292,182

Level of confidence in elemental analysis by LIBS

2012-DN-BX-K027

Closed

Funding First Awarded

2012

$399,532

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