MicroLIBS sensors for robotic planetary and astrobiological exploration
missions (ROBIM)
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0332/ 04/01/2021- 31/12/2023
Contracting
authority: Executive Unit for the Financing of Higher
Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)
Name of the Program in PN III: P4 - Fundamental and frontier research Project type: Exploratory Research
Projects, Budget 1.171.032 lei (~240.220 euro)
Project Manager: Assoc. Prof. PhD. Habil. Silviu-Octavian GURLUI
The ROBIM project MicroLIBS sensors for robotic planetary and astrobiological exploration missions
is focused research, to design and validate miniaturized equipment able to working in exploratory space missions
with severe constrains (environment gas mixture, pressure, temperature, etc). Our technology is based to enhance
the ablative and emissive stage of the plasma by means dual-pulse LIBS in order to enhance the analyte peak-to-base
and signal-to-noise ratios, and atoms and ions line spectra. Taking into account the advantage of dual pulse LIBS
technology, choosing various wavelengths and a high repetition rate of the lasers, we propose an instrument able to
remote the chemical compounds behaviors in various environmental conditions based on the measurements obtained not
only by LIBS but also by Raman coupled spectra according to each used laser. The obtained Raman spectra are
dependent on time profile of the plasma plume and consequently we enhance the potential of the LIBS to investigate
furthermore the phase changes and trace compound especially in the ice/soil mixture samples (depending on the
temperature). Following, time-space resolved emissions Raman Spectroscopy is used to measures in a second the
elemental compositions of the soil/rock.

Mai objetive:
Creation of a compact instrument, space exploration diagnose techniques to remotely and investigate in severe
environmental conditions (pressure, gas, temperature) the chemical composition of some targets using combined LIDAR
/ LIBS / RAMAN techniques by using combined laser pulses and space-time optical resolved spectroscopy. Increase the
knowledge in an inter-disciplinary, up to date field, according to the severe limitations of real space working
environment conditions, to find the best solution for detecting particle traces using minimum energies / laser
pulse. Raise the standards of the inter-disciplinary basic research, through the co-operation of a critical mass of
researchers from different research centres and high education institutes. Improve the performances of the research
staff at a national and international level

Expected results:
The expected results in the ROBIM project are related to the realization of a strong infrastructure, a new
analytical tool used in a variety of severe environmental conditions (terrestrial atmosphere, space missions) able
to analyse the traces of gas and soil compounds to identify the composition chemistry, to measure elemental
temperature or densities. Experiments aim at a better understanding of the fundamental processes that take place in
the evolution of transient plasma laser ablation in a variety of extreme environmental conditions. Although LIBS
technology supports a large number of applications, the laser ablation mechanism (which depends on the wavelength,
repetition rate, laser pulse width, target type or working gas, etc.) is not yet fully elucidated, especially in
extreme conditions, such as those for space missions.
Report 2021 (link pdf, here)
Experimental ROBIM double pulse
laser assemblies for LIBS and atmospheric measurements - LIDAR
The novel LOASL-
LIDAR
The installation consists of the use of the
following optical and spectrometric components:
• 2 pulsed lasers with a repetition rate of 10 Hz,
wavelengths of 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm and 266 nm.
• Laser pulse delay generator that operates in the same
optical field coupled to the multichannel oscilloscope for the analysis of laser pulses and the delay time
between them.
• Optical telescope for investigating backscattering
radiations from the atmosphere following the interaction of the laser pulse coupling with
aerosols.
• Two laser beam expanders corresponding to the
two laser beams used in the integrated LIDAR system (with the role of widening the interaction surface of the
laser beams with the aerosols in the atmosphere)
• Optical systems for guiding backscattering
radiations to the spectrometric system
• Monochromator (f = 750 mm) - Princeton Instruments SP 2750
(Triple Diffraction Spectrometer and Optical Imaging System coupled with ICCD PI-Max ultra-fast intensifying
camera with 2 ns integration time
The installation allows the recording of RAMAN spectra induced by the de-excitation of
molecular systems in the atmosphere under the action of incident laser beams, with pulses shifted temporally
and superimposed in the same field in space, to obtain a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio,
chemical compound, from the atmosphere, located on different atmospheric layers, at high altitude. Some
images recorded with the realization and development of this new ROBIM equipment are presented
together:

ROBIM experimental installation of the LIDAR with double laser pulse with controlled delay for
investigations of the atmospheric chemical composition, at variable altitude, with a temporal resolution of
up to 2 ns.
LIBS experimental set-up with double pulses
laser
This assembly involves the use of
optical components to guide and focus two laser optical beams in a well-defined area on materials under
controlled environmental conditions (gas pressure, gas composition, temperature). The installation is made so
that the two laser pulses are focused at the same point on the analyzed sample and the pen (cloud of laser
ablation particles) has a vertical expansion direction, along the direction of the spectroscope slit. During
this time, the entire sample guidance system has a controlled, computerized motion of two stepper motors and a
motion path defined by dedicated software. The transient laser plasma is analyzed and resolved in space and time
by various electrical and spectral diagnostic systems (we use the same SP2750i spectrometer coupled with the
PIMAX-3, 2 ns camera). The system allows the sampling of laser ablation plasma into slices up to 0.2 mm thick,
each slice being subjected to spectral and imaging investigations, resolved over
time.
Some images of the installation made, with double laser pulse, are presented
below:


ISI papers:
-
A. Cocean, I. Cocean,
N. Cimpoesu, G. Cocean, R. Cimpoesu, C. Postolachi, V. Popescu and S. Gurlui, Laser Induced Method to
Produce Curcuminoid-Silanol Thin Films for Transdermal Patches Using Irradiation of Turmeric Target,
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4030.
-
A. Cocean, I. Cocean,
G. Cocean, C. Postolachi, D. A. Pricop, B. S. Munteanu, N. Cimpoesu and S. Gurlui, Study of
Physico-Chemical Interactions during the Production of Silver Citrate Nanocomposites with Hemp Fiber,
Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 2560. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102560
-
Konrad-Soare
C.T., Enescu F., Dimitriu D.G., Dobromir M., Teodorescu-Soare E.G., Mazzanti F., Irimiciuc S.A.,
Ionita C., Schrittwieser R., Concentric double hollow grid cathode discharges. Spectral
investigations and phenomenological approach, Plasma Sources Science and, Volume 30, Issue 8,
August 2021, Article number 085006
-
Cocean, A.,
Cocean, I., Gurlu, S., Influence of the impurities to the composite materials in laser ablation
phenomena, (2021), UPB Scientific Bulletin, Series A: Applied Mathematics and Physics, 83 (3), pp.
225-238
-
Kadri, L., Bulai,
G., Carlescu, A., George, S., Gurlui, S., Leontie, L., Doroftei, C., Adnane, M., Effect of target
sintering temperature on the morphological and optical properties of pulsed laser deposited TiO2
thin films, (2021), Coatings, 11 (5), art. no. 561
-
Catalin Panaghie,
Ramona Cimpoesu, Bogdan Istrate, Nicanor Cimpoesu, Mihai-Adrian Bernevig, Georgeta Zegan,
Ana-Maria Roman, Romeu Chelariu and Alina Sodor, New Zn3Mg-xY Alloys: Characteristics,
Microstructural Evolution and Corrosion Behavior, Materials 2021, 14, 2505.
Conferences:
ICPAM 13: 24 -30 September 2021
[1]. Alexandru COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Silvia GAROFALIDE, Diana PATA, Maria DIACONU, Francisca
HUSANU, Georgiana BULAI, Bogdan MUNTEANU, Nicanor CIMPOESU, Dan- Gheorghe DIMITRIU, Iuliana
COCEAN, Silviu GURLUI, Dual-pulse
ns-laser-induced Raman and breakdown spectroscopy to enhance performance on atoms and molecular
detection
[2].
Alexandru COCEAN, Iuliana COCEAN, Georgiana COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Bogdanel Silvestru MUNTEANU, Nicanor
CIMPOESU and Silviu GURLUI, Keratin-based polymer nanofilm membranes for medical applications
[3].
Cristina POSTOLACHI, Alexandru COCEAN, Iuliana COCEAN, Georgiana COCEAN, Bogdanel Silvestru MUNTEANU, Nicanor
CIMPOESU, and Silviu GURLUI, Study of Si/SiO2 core/shell Quantum Dots produced by Pulsed Laser
Deposition.
AdvPhotoCat-EE2021 (28 - 29 June
2021)
[1].
Invited Speaker: Silviu Gurlui: Trace elements Photo-Analysis for environmental applications: a case study,
Alexandru Cocean, Iuliana Cocean, Georgiana Bulai, Cristina Postolachi, Bogdan Munteanu, Nicanor Cimpoesu, Silviu
Gurlui
[2].
Oral Presentation:
Laser induced chitin deacetylation- cutting-edge technology for "natural biological waste”, Alexandru COCEAN,
Iuliana COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Georgiana COCEAN and Silviu GURLUI
[3].
Oral Presentation: Photo-degradation of some landfill contaminants on the surrounding waters, Iuliana COCEAN, Maria
DIACONU, Alexandru COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI and Silviu GURLUI
[4].
Poster
Presentation: AMC-COMSOL: the new finite element technique to increase solar cell conversion, Alexandru Cocean,
Dorin Botoc, Monica Siroux, Cristina Postolachi, Iuliana Cocean, Silviu Gurlui
[5].
Poster Presentation: Quantum Dots Pulsed Laser Deposition – a new simulation technique, Alexandru Cocean, Cristina
Postolachi, Iuliana Cocean, Silviu Gurlui
[6].
Poster Presentation: CdSe Quantum Dots insertion effect on the alpha-keratin PLD-thin films, Cristina POSTOLACHI,
Mirela SUCHEA, Ioan-Valentin TUDOSE, Alexandru COCEAN, Iuliana COCEAN, Bogdanel Silvestru MUNTEANU, Nicanor
CIMPOESU and Silviu GURLUI
[7].
Poster Presentation: Chemical processes induced by light on the AuNP-citrate surface, Daniela Angelica PRICOP,
Alexandru COCEAN, Florin BRANZA, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Iuliana COCEAN, Adina COROABA, Dorina Emilia CREANGA, Felicia
IACOMI, Silviu GURLUI
[8].
Poster
Presentation: High pulsed-laser effect on the hemp composite - advanced materials, Iuliana COCEAN, Alexandru
COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Bogdanel Silvestru MUNTEANU, Nicanor CIMPOESU and Silviu
GURLUI
[9].
Poster Presentation: Light interaction, pollution and SARS-Cov2: protection Mask
biocompatibility-overview, Silviu Gurlui, Alexandru Cocean, Cristina Postolachi,Georgiana Cocean, Iuliana Cocean
[10].
Poster Presentation: Washing municipal streets – the origin of some photo-contaminants pollution, Iuliana COCEAN,
Maria DIACONU, Silvia GAROFALIDE, Alexandru COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Vasile PELIN and Silviu
GURLUI
[11].
Poster Presentation: Huge ice lump fell from the atmosphere: effect of complex cumulative
pollution phenomenon, Iuliana COCEAN, Daniela Angelica PRICOP, Alexandru COCEAN, Francisca HUSANU, Nicanor
CIMPOESU, Bogdanel MUNTEANU, Maria DIACONU, Cristina POSTOLACHI and Silviu GURLUI
[12].
Poster Presentation: Photochemical effects on heritage asset because environmental stress, Vasile PELIN, Alexandru
COCEAN, Cristina POSTOLACHI, Silvia GAROFALIDE, Francisca HUSANU, Iuliana COCEAN and Silviu
GURLUI
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