Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by precipitation method: Characterizations and applications in decipherment of latent fingerprints

Abstract

Here in we present the synthesis of phase pure ZnO nanoparticles using precipitation method. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and UV–Visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The observed data is in good agreement with previously reported XRD data of ZnO nanoparticles (JCPDS File number 36–1451) which confirms the synthesis of pure phase ZnO nanoparticles. Scherrer formula was used to calculate the crystallite size of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The band gap of synthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles was obtained using UV–Visible spectroscopy. We used these ZnO nanoparticles’ powder for latent fingerprint (LFP) development. The developed fingerprints were tape lifted using normal cellophane tape and was pasted over a dark background surface. Photography was done before and after the lifting process and was sticked over a dark surface.