Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in China over the past decade: A first-principles and problem-oriented review

Owing to its inherent advantages, such as minimal sample preparation, real-time and simultaneous multi-element detection, and outstanding potential for in-situ and online analysis, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has become one of the indispensable spectroscopic techniques for elemental analysis and has greatly advanced elemental analysis in critical fields such as industrial quality control, geological exploration, aerospace detection, and fusion energy research. Over the past decade, LIBS research in China has achieved remarkable and comprehensive progress, making it timely to re-examine the current status of the field and identify the key directions that require further intensive investigation. For the first time, this review adopts a problem-oriented perspective to identify the key problems and summarize recent progress, anchored in the first principle of LIBS, as clarified in recent years: the essence of LIBS lies in the fact that its signal source is a highly transient and spatially inhomogeneous laser-induced plasma, which distinguishes it from other spectroscopic techniques. Based on this understanding, three core problems spanning the entire LIBS analytical chain are identified as the framework of this review: the generation of repeatable and stable signals through the formation of a more stable and repeatable plasma; the transformation of raw signals into reliable analytical results through the reduction of matrix effects and signal uncertainty; and the maintenance of reliable analytical performance under practical deployment constraints. Under this framework, this paper reviews the latest research progress in LIBS in China from four aspects: fundamental plasma physics research, instrumental innovation and integration, data processing and modeling methodologies, and representative practical applications. It is shown that Chinese LIBS research has evolved from isolated methodological improvements to a more integrated research paradigm that synergistically combines plasma physics, signal acquisition, analytical modeling, and scenario-specific implementation. Despite these significant advances, critical challenges remain, including refined and predictive plasma modeling, systematic characterization of coupled signal-formation effects, enhanced robustness and transferability of analytical models, and the maintenance of reliable analytical performance under real deployment scenarios. Future development of LIBS in China is expected to rely on the interdisciplinary integration and joint advancement of deeper physical understanding of laser-induced plasma, more generalizable analytical methodologies, and more sophisticated engineering implementation for practical deployment.