NIR luminescence for the detection of latent fingerprints based on ESIPT and AIE processes

In this paper, a facile near infrared (NIR, 650/900 nm) probe 4-dimethylamino-2'-hydroxychalcone (NIR-LP) based on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) - aggregation induced emission (AIE) processes for the detection of the latent fingerprints (LFPs) was developed for the first time. The probe can distinguish the fresh LFPs, but also recognize the aged (10 days) LFPs.