Optimization of Electrochemical Visualization of Latent Fingerprints with Poly(Neutral Red) on Brass Surfaces.

Gabriela Broncová,Tereza Slaninová,Vadim Prokopec,Pavel Matějka,Miroslava Trchová,Tatiana V. Shishkanova

doi:10.3390/polym13193220

Gabriela Broncová, Tereza Slaninová + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13193220

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Sep 23, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Chemistry and Technology

Abstract

This study is focused on the visualization of latent fingerprints on brass surfaces using the method of electrochemical deposition of a polymer film based on poly(neutral red) (PNR). The experiment included (i) optimization of conditions of electrochemical deposition of PNR on brass surfaces, (ii) ATR-FTIR spectroscopic characterization of PNR-modified substrates, and (iii) identification of characteristic details on visualized fingerprints on fired brass cartridges. For electrochemical visualization, it is necessary to keep in mind both kind and “story” substrates. Experimental findings showed that electrochemical visualization carried out on brass plates is a step forward before known findings described in the literature and gives simultaneously a new approach for criminalists in the fight against crime.

Highlights

Fingerprints are currently one of the most widely used means of forensic identification.Fingerprint identification is based on the presence of features that correspond to the details of the second level of papillary lines [1,2,3]
The main goal of this work was to find the optimal conditions for the visualization of fingerprints using poly(neutral red) (PNR) films and analytical characterization on a brass plate, and the results were subsequently used to visualize fingerprints on fired brass cartridges
Acetone (Penta, CR) and ethanol were used to clean prepared brass plates and fired brass cartridges, 0.1 mol·L−1 of sodium nitrate (NaNO3, Lachema Brno, CR) was used as the supporting electrolyte, 0.002 mol·L−1 of neutral red (NR, Lachema Brno, CR) was the substance applied for polymerization/visualization

Summary

Introduction

Fingerprints are currently one of the most widely used means of forensic identification. Fingerprint identification is based on the presence of features that correspond to the details of the second level of papillary lines [1,2,3]. Fingerprints can be examined at the first and third levels of detail; they cannot be used for unambiguous identification, but only to exclude the perpetrator [4,5,6]. In contemporary forensics, several techniques are used to visualize latent fingerprints; they are generally divided into optical, physical, physico-chemical, and chemical methods [7,8,9]. The choice of a suitable technique depends mainly on the nature of the surface on which the fingerprint is to be made visible/visualized [9]

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