ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Photoluminescent Semiconductor Nanocrystals for Fingerprint Detection
Roland Menzel, E
Texas Tech University, TX

Cheng, KH
Texas Tech University, TX

Sudduth, MR
Texas Tech University, TX

Murdock, RH
Texas Tech University, TX

Ulvick, SJ
Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation, TX

Savoy, SM
Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation, TX

(Received 13 April 1999; accepted 30 July 1999)

Abstract

The concept of utilizing photoluminescent semiconductor nanocrystals for latent fingerprint detection, especially in concert with phase-resolved imaging for background fluorescence suppression, is reduced to practice with CdS nanocrystals that are capped with dioctyl sulfosuccinate. The nanocrystals are dissolved in heptane or hexane and are applied in much the same way as staining with fluorescent dye, on articles that have been pre-fumed with cyanoacrylate ester and also on the sticky side of electrical tape without pre-fuming. Since CdS can form a photoluminescent nanocomposite with dendrimers, a feasibility examination of dendrimer tagging of fingerprints has also been conducted.

Keywords:
forensic science, fingerprints, photoluminescence, semiconductor nanocrystal, quantum dot, nanoparticle, cadmium sulfide, dendrimer, time-resolved imaging, phase-resolved imaging

Paper ID: JFS14727J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14727J
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