Preliminary studies into fluorescent semiconductor nanorods for the detection of latent fingermarks: Size matters, shape matters

The effect of the shape of semiconductor nanocrystals on their performance for visualising latent fingermarks was investigated for the first time. Highly luminescent CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals in rod and spherical shapes were synthesised in organic solvent and transferred to aqueous solution using ligand exchange. The 3-mercapto-propionic acid coated nanorods and nanospheres were characterised using electron microscopy and UV-visible absorbance and luminescence spectrophotometry. A simple and rapid development of fresh to less than a week-old natural fingermarks from 4 donors (male and female) on non-porous surfaces including glass slides, aluminium foil and germanium disks using both CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods and spherical dots was achieved, wherein nanorods demonstrated an enhanced development of ridge details in comparison to the spherical dots.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of semiconductor nanocrystal shapes on their performance for visualising latent fingermarks. Highly luminescent CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals in rod and spherical shapes were synthesized and used to develop fresh fingermarks on non-porous surfaces. It was found that nanorods demonstrated enhanced development of ridge details compared to spherical dots.