LIBS and Raman spectroscopy in tandem with machine learning for interrogating weatherization of lithium hydride

Lithium compounds such as lithium hydride ( ) and anhydrous lithium hydroxide ( ) have various applications in industry but are highly reactive when exposed to moisture and . These reactions create new molecular compounds that degrade applications. Environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture are examples of environmental conditions that are of interest for these reactions. To interrogate the effects of such weatherization, experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber (Plas-Labs 890-THC glove box) employing a pulsed laser and an echelle spectrograph in a novel single setup to conduct both Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in tandem. These measurements in conjunction with data fusion and machine learning techniques are used to develop training and testing of environmental conditioning of Li compounds. Modeling of environmental characterizations involving lithium-based compounds enabled by the presented measurements and analytical techniques has significant implications on industrial technologies, such as batteries, and other nuclear applications.