Physicochemical techniques in the development of latent fingerprints

Fingerprints have long been used as a tool in criminal investigations. Recent research has resulted in a number of new methods for their development on a variety of surfaces, although fingerprints on skin and fabrics remain a problem.     

High-resolution and instantaneous imaging of latent fingerprints

Tu group from Fudan University utilized a supramolecular assembly strategy and employed terpyridine Zn(II) complexes to selectively improve fluorescent properties and enhance the ability to bind components in latent fingerprints (LFPs), which provides an efficient approach for practical LFPs recording and analysis in different scenarios.

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Application of nanoparticles for the enhancement of latent fingerprints

Two different types of nanoparticles dissolved in organic solution, gold stabilized by n-alkanethiols and CdSe/ZnS stabilized by n-alkane-amine, adhere preferentially to the ridges of latent fingerprints; the gold deposits catalyze silver electroless deposition from "Silver Physical Developer" (Ag-PD), an aqueous solution containing silver colloids stabilized by cationic surfactants, to form dark impressions of the ridge details; the hydrophobic capped gold nanoparticles significantly improve the intensity and clarity of the developed prints compared with Ag-PD alone; finger marks treated with CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles can be viewed directly, due to their fluorescence under UV illumination.     

Aggregation induced emission for the recognition of latent fingerprints

The aggregation-induced emission of tetraphenylethene was explored for enhancing the visualization of latent fingerprints on wet non-porous surfaces.     

手印显现技术对DNA分析的影响研究进展

手印是案件现场中常见且重要的痕迹物证,近年来DNA则因其高度的个体差异性逐渐成为"新一代证据之王",但二者均为人身同一认定的重要依据.尤其是在手印上常留有接触DNA,在用各类手印显现技术提取手印的同时应如何兼顾DNA的提取,成为当下法庭科学需要研究的热点问题.本综述根据显现原理的不同,分别讨论、比较和总结了物理方法、化...     

基于金属有机骨架材料Tb-BTC显现潜指印的研究

为探究金属有机骨架材料在指印显现领域的应用,本研究采用预混合迅速滴显的方法,使金属有机骨架材料Tb-BTC直接络合在指印纹线上.使用该材料对渗透性客体中A4纸、黑色卡纸、牛皮纸;非渗透性客体中透明玻璃片、瓷砖上的皮脂指印进行显现,探究了不同配比、不同滴加顺序、不同显现时间的预混合溶液对不同类型、不同遗留时间、不同遗留物...     

Instantaneous visual imaging of latent fingerprints in water

Science China Chemistry -     

Advances in the development and component recognition of latent fingerprints

Fingerprints have been used as an indispensable tool for personal identification in forensic investigations since the late 19 th century. At present, fingerprinting technology has moved away from its forensic roots and is incorporating a broader scientific range, e.g., material science, spectroscopy and spectral analysis, and even in vitro diagnosis. After a brief introduction to latent fingerprints, this mini-review presents the pioneering progresses of fingerprinting technologies including(i) material and electrochemical techniques, and(ii) spectral and spectroscopy imaging techniques and immunological techniques capable of both the visualization of a fingerprint and the detection of chemicals present in it. Finally, perspectives on this rapidly developing field are discussed.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on optimum electrochemically roughened silver substrates

In this work, the effects of preparation conditions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) were first investigated. The optimum roughening conditions for obtaining strongest SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) are as follows. Ag electrodes were cycled in deoxygenated aqueous solutions containing 0.1 M NaCl from −0.3 to +0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl at 25 mV s⁻¹ for five scans. The SERS of R6G adsorbed on this optimum procedure-prepared roughened Ag substrate exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a normally roughened Ag substrate.     

The detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints using Raman spectroscopy I: latent fingerprints

This paper describes the application of Raman spectroscopy to the detection of exogenous substances in latent fingerprints. The scenario considered was that of an individual handling a substance and subsequently depositing a contaminated fingerprint. Five drugs of abuse (codeine phosphate, cocaine hydrochloride, amphetamine sulphate, barbital and nitrazepam) and five non-controlled substances of similar appearance, which may be used in the adulteration of drugs of abuse (caffeine, aspirin, paracetamol, starch and talc), were studied in both sweat-rich and sebum-rich latent fingerprints. The substances studied could be clearly distinguished using their Raman spectra and were all successfully detected in latent fingerprints. Photobleaching was necessary to reduce the fluorescence background in the spectra of some substances. Raman spectra obtained from the substances in sweat-rich latent fingerprints were of a similar quality to spectra that obtained from the substances under normal sampling conditions. Interfering Raman bands arising from latent fingerprint material were present in the spectra obtained from the substances in sebum-rich fingerprints. These bands did not prevent identification of the substances and could be successfully removed by spectral subtraction. The most difficult aspect of the detection of these substances in latent fingerprints was visually locating the substance in the fingerprint in order to obtain a Raman spectrum.     

Visualization of latent fingerprints using Prussian blue thin films

Herein,a facile and effective approach was proposed for visualizing latent fingerprints(LFPs) on two kinds of conductive surfaces by spatially selective electrochemical deposition of Prussian blue(PB) thin films.This strategy exploited the fingerprint residue as an insulating mask and the PB thin films were only generated on the bare surface including the valleys between the papillary ridges,which produced a negative image of LFPs with high resolution up to the third level information.The surface morphology of PB films was characterized by the field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM).This enhancement technique showed promising performance in selected materials of practical interest.     

Temperature effect of electrochemically roughened gold substrates on polymerization electrocatalysis of polypyrrole

In this work, electrochemical methods were used to prepare complexes with Au and Cl species on bulk Au substrates. Then the electrochemically roughened Au substrates were further heat-treated at different temperatures. The effect of temperatures used in heat treatments between 25 and 100 °C on electrocatalytical polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) formed on the prepared gold substrates was first investigated. The result indicates that the optimally electrocatalytical capability of the heat-treated Au substrate for PPy polymerization is at 75 °C. Moreover, the autopolymerized PPy on the roughened Au substrate treated at 75 °C demonstrates the highest oxidation level and oxidation degree of 0.32 and 0.50, respectively. Primary results indicate that complexes with positively charged Au act as oxidants, and perchlorate and chloride ions act as dopants for the oxidation-polymerization of PPy.     

The application of radioactive bromine isotopes for the visualisation of latent fingerprints

A vapour phase bromination procedure using^80mBr and⁸²Br has been investigated for reaction with unsaturated lipids present in a fingerprint deposit. The reaction is rapid and in combination with autoradiography provides a promising technique for the visualisation of latent fingerprints particularly under conditions which preclude the application of other methods. Preliminary work on the degradation of fingerprint constituents by UV and water is reported with comparative studies using the³⁵SO₂ reaction.     

Magnetically separable template assisted iron nanoparticle for the enhancement of latent fingerprints

The article focuses on the cost-effective and high-quality non-destructive template-assisted magnetic mesoporous iron nanomaterial for latent Fingerprint examination (LFPs). The iron nanomaterial is synthesized using the CTAB template by the co-precipitation method. The synthesized nanomaterial is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ sorption- Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), EDX elemental mapping, Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), UV–Visible spectroscopy, and XPS. The N2 sorption showed that the synthesized material is mesoporous with an H1 hysteresis loop. The TEM images showed the spherical shape and particle size to be around 55–65 nm. The VSM analysis successfully established its ferromagnetic nature. The synthesized nanomaterial showed excellent magnetic recovery after its utilization and retained fingerprints for 2–3 months with the same resolution. We collected the fingerprint on both non-porous and non-porous surfaces with better-developed ridges of fingerprints compared to conventional fingerprinting dyes (charcoal).     

Characterization of electrochemically synthesized alkylpyrrole intrinsically conducting polymers

This work concerns some electrochemical polymerizations of pyrrole derivatives in order to obtain intrinsically conducting polymers: the study was mainly concerned with the electrochemical polymerization of 3‐alkyl substituted pyrroles with different chain lengths (3‐hexylpyrrole, 3‐decylpyrrole, 3‐hexadecylpyrrole). Different experimental conditions were adopted with 3‐alkylpyrroles: different solvents (propylene carbonate, acetonitrile), different counterions (ClO₄⁻, BF₄⁻, NO₃⁻, PF₆⁻, TsO⁻) and different current densities (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mA/cm²). The synthesized conducting polymers were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C cross‐polarization magic angle spinning solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance and electrical conductivity measurements to study the relations connecting the experimental conditions of synthesis with the structure and electrical properties of the polymers. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal heatings were performed in order to evaluate the polymer's thermal stability. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improved surface-enhanced Raman scattering on electrochemically roughened silver substrates prepared in bielectrolyte solutions

In this work, the effect of supplemental LiClO₄ electrolytes in KCl solutions used in roughening silver substrates by electrochemical triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was first investigated. To prepare SERS-active substrates by ORC procedures, electrolytes of KCl were generally employed. In contrast, LiClO₄ ones were unsuitable for producing SERS-active substrates. Encouragingly, SERS of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on the roughened Ag substrate prepared in an aqueous solution containing KCl and LiClO₄ electrolytes exhibits a higher intensity by one order of magnitude, as compared with that of R6G adsorbed on a roughened Ag substrate prepared in a solution only containing KCl. Further investigations indicate that the oxidation state of Cl on the roughened Ag substrate demonstrates decided effects on this improved SERS.     

Effect of electrochemically synthesized polymethylolamide coatings on the corrosion resistance of steel in seawater

The effect of coatings based on a copolymer of acrylamide, N,N′-methylenebisaxcrylamide and formaldehyde deposited by electrochemical polymerization on the corrosion resistance of 08Kh18N10T stainless steel (field studies at sea) and low-carbon steel (laboratory experiments) was examined.     

Characterization of DNA immobilized on electrochemically prepared conducting polypyrrole-polyvinyl sulfonate films

The article describes the adsorption characteristics of DNA onto electrochemically generated polypyrrole-polyvinyl sulfonate (PPY-PVS) films obtained as a function of pH. Adsorption on PPY doped with an anion proceeds by anion exchange, and since DNA possesses a fixed negative charge owing to PO ₄ ⁻ , it favors a very strong binding displacing PVS with favorable energetic interactions. Characterization of adsorbed DNA onto the PPY-PVS films was carried out by ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetric studies.     

Characterization of organic overlayers on well-defined substrates

Proceeding from some remarks on the importance of organic/inorganic interfaces and of the controlled growth of thin organic films for both, basic research and present or future applications it is shown that surface sensitive methods like NEXAFS, XPS, ARUPS, and TPD can nicely be applied for studying various model systems. These systems range from perylene single crystals, over perylene and PTCDA layers on Si(111), PTCDA on Ag(111), HCOOH on Ni(111) to adsorption and polymerization of thiophene on a Ag(111) surface. Selected data are shown, and some results are briefly discussed.     

铽荧光纳米配合物的制备及其潜血手印显现应用

以铽离子为发光中心、对苯二甲酸为第一配体、菲咯啉为第二配体,采用化学方法一步制备出表面羧基修饰的铽荧光纳米配合物。使用活化剂1-（3-二甲氨基丙基）-3-乙基碳二亚胺盐酸盐配合稳定剂N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺对配合物表面的羧基进行活化,促使活化羧基与潜血手印中的胺基在温和条件下迅速发生酰胺反应,成功实现了潜血手印的靶向显现。优化了潜血手印显现的最佳条件,显现悬浮液中配合物与水的质量比推荐为1：35,显现浸泡时间推荐为20 s。并深入探究了手印显现的对比度、灵敏度、选择性、适用性。实验结果表明,制备的表面活化羧基修饰的铽荧光纳米配合物适用于光滑非渗透性及半渗透性客体表面潜血手印的高质量与高效率显现。