Fluorescent Nanomaterials in Visualization of Latent Fingerprint

Latent fingerprint plays a key role in crime scene examination because it is commonly found in most crime scenes. It is today's need to develop new material for efficient visualization and development of latent fingermarks from various surfaces. Fingermarks are unique evidence for individual identification crime investigations. Routine traditional materials used for the examination of various types of fingermarks have disadvantages including high toxicity, minimum sensitivity, huge background interference, less contrast, and tedious workup protocol. The usefulness of the synthesized fluorescent nanomaterials studies for the development of various classes of fingermarks on porous and non-porous surfaces has been emphasized in this chapter. Fluorescent nanomaterial includes a metal oxide, and rare earth element doped transition metal oxides, which are used for the examination of various types of fingerprints on various surfaces. Eu, Ce, and Tb doped nanomaterial give green and red-emitting fluorescent. Synthesized fluorescent nanomaterial has low background interference, less toxicity, high efficacy, high sensitivity, and excellent contrast with minimum background interference.