Alessandro De Giacomo on Nanoparticle-Enhanced LIBS, Drone-Based Analysis, and Training Future Scientists

De Giacomo also described a drone-mounted LIBS system that, to his knowledge, is the first operating system capable of quantitative in-flight measurements. Drone positioning carries centimeter-scale uncertainty, and oscillation and tilting during flight make conventional comparison against reference measurements impractical. A self-calibration approach solves this by deriving instrumental calibration and elemental quantification directly from the measured signal. The system quantifies elements down to 0.1% and can detect, though not quantify, ppm levels, precision he considers well suited to surveys spanning kilometers.

Discussing this year’s award selection, made by a 35-member international jury, he said the chosen papers (one on correct ICCD use and two applications in LIBS and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry [ICP-MS]) show laser ablation maturing for advanced applications. He added that the laser–matter interaction and material ejection in heterogeneous plasma systems remain underexplored.

De Giacomo also urged educators to ground students in scientific fundamentals rather than rushing to applications, arguing the field needs revolutionary, not merely evolutionary, work.

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