Nanostructured assessment of copper oxide for latent fingerprint recognition

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the different fields of forensic science, particularly in the efficient examination of evidence. In this study, we report scalable synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanosheets by using hydrothermal method and its exploration in the forensic examination of latent fingerprints. The identification and structural characterization of CuO nanoparticles were carried out using advanced spectroscopic methods such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The stabilization of CuO nanosheets in monoclinic symmetry (space group C2/c) was confirmed through Le Bail refinements. Morphological studies based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the CuO nanosheets exhibit, a rectangular, thin plate like morphology.

The applicability of these nanosheets was tested for examining and developing fresh and aged (7 days old) latent fingerprints on dry, non-absorbent substrates using the powder dusting method. The formulation successfully developed sharp and clear fingerprints on various substrates, allowing the second-level details of the fingerprints to be viewed without any background interference. Additionally, these nanosheets are non-hazardous and cost-effective, making them a suitable fingerprint developing agent for a wide range of dry, non-absorbent surfaces recovered from crime scenes.