Forensic Advantages and Disadvantages of Raman Spectroscopy Methods in Various Banknotes Analysis and the Observed Discordant Results

Abstract

This work discussed and highlighted advantages and disadvantages of Raman spectroscopy methods in the analysis of various security areas of banknote around the world, trending in the current literature. Various methods applied on the three main security areas of banknotes investigation were considered – ink, prints and substrate security areas. Specifically, the advantages and disadvantages envisage from the various methods focuses on laser focal spot size used, Raman signal detection on the selected security areas and the samples detection efficiency of the various methods reported. The research also explains some discordant results observed in the various works conducted on similar security areas of different banknotes. Overall, Ink and print security analysis are the most widely analyzed security areas employed in the various researches, while the spectral analysis of substrate security area was the least explored area. The Raman forensic advantages of banknotes investigation outweighed the envisage disadvantages, and the most common disadvantage notice in the various methods are the fluorescent effect and single note detection (per analysis) limitation in the various methods.