A Review on Nanomaterials for Developing Latent Fingerprint

Abstract

Forensics has become a more interesting scientific topic to investigate with the advancement in science and technology in which nanomaterials have attracted a lot of attention in the field of nano-forensic research. Fingerprints are important evidence in any crime scene, and nano-based techniques have a lot of potential in fingerprint investigations in the future. Fingerprints have often been and still are considered one of the most valuable types of physical evidence for personal identification. The prints left behind at a crime scene are usually latent (invisible) fingerprints and thus, the distinct ridge details of fingerprints can be obtained by applying different nanoparticles such as silver, zinc oxide, silicon dioxide, aluminium oxide, gold, carbon and silica on a variety of object surfaces, with gold being the most commonly used. The use of nanoparticles can improve the quality and stability of latent fingerprints. As a result, this review study focuses on the use of various nanomaterials in the development and detection of latent fingerprints.