Current Research

Development of Laser-based Gas Detection System

Designing a highly compact, long-path tunable mid-infrared diode laser system for the detection and quantification of trace gases, with applications in environmental monitoring.

Past Research

Soil Analysis Using LIBS

Led research to enhance quantitative analysis of agricultural soils, with a focus on mitigating matrix interference through LIBS combined with advanced chemometric modeling. This work aims to support sustainable agricultural practices.

Development of a High-Throughput LIBS System

Developed a fiber-optic LIBS system integrated with chemometrics for online and real-time monitoring of electrolyte solutes in clinical and point-of-care (POC) settings.

Predicting Soil Texture

Developed a LIBS-based benchtop instrument for the quantitative analysis of agricultural soils, leveraging machine learning and chemometrics to interpret complex spectral data. This research was highlighted in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry on the back cover of Volume 34, Issue 8 (2019), for its contributions to soil texture prediction.

An example of LIBS spectra recorded from three soil types: sandy, silty, and clayey.

Principal component analysis (PCA) biplot of spectral data. Sandy soils (grey) and clayey soils (blue) clusters.

Groundwater Monitoring for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Developed a compact, robust LIBS sensor for in-situ monitoring of CCS activities in extreme environments (high temperature, pressure, and salinity). One of our research projects earned the prestigious distinction of being featured on the front cover of the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (Volume 31, Issue 7, 2016). This study explored the application of underwater LIBS for real-time, in situ monitoring of carbonate mineral dissolution under rising CO2 pressure.

Underwater LIBS experimental setup. Measurements were taken in a controlled, high-pressure environment, replicating up to 400 bar (≈ 6,000 psi) conditions in carbonated brine environments. Quantitative analysis of key elements (Mg, Ca, K, Ba, Mn, Sr, etc.) in brine.

LIBS for CCS: Signal-to-noise ratio for key emission lines.

NETL Team: During my time at NETL, I had the privilege of collaborating with a group of exceptional, experienced researchers. Pictured from left to right in the second row are Dustin McIntyre, Harry Edenborn, Jinesh Jain, and Christian Goueguel.

Wavelength-Selective Excitation Approaches in Laser-produced plasma

Research focused on improving the limit of detection (LOD) for trace impurities in metallic alloys using selective wavelength approaches in laser-produced plasma. Explored LA-LIF, resonance-enhance LIBS, and RLA-LIF approaches for enhanced LODs in impurity analysis. Proposed efficient excitation-fluorescence schemes for targeted element detection in RLA-LIF. Our research on the investigation of resonance-enhance LIBS was featured on the inside front cover of the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Volume 25, Issue 5 (2010).

LA-LIF and resonance-enhance LIBS experimental setup. A first Nd:YAG pulse generates low-density vapor, followed by a second tunable pulse targeting a resonant transition of an analyte (LA-LIF), or of a matrix element (resonance-enhance LIBS).

(upper panel) Confocal microscopy images of resonance-enhance LIBS sample damage at three ablation laser fluences. (lower panel) Resonance-enhance LIBS is especially advantageous when minimal surface damage is critical, as it ablates approximately 10 times less material per shot than standard LIBS.

Partial Grotrian diagram illustrating the excitation and fluorescence emission processes of lead, as used in LA-LIF and RLA-LIF experiments.

(left panel) RLA-LIF improves detection sensitivity by approximately 1 order of magnitude at a significantly lower laser fluence compared to standard LIBS. (right panel) Optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based 3D plots and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of sample ablation craters in RLA-LIF.