Nanomaterials for latent fingerprint detection: a review

This review paper focuses on the application of forensic science in latent fingerprint detection by the usage of distinct nanomaterials and their benefits with respect to the quality of fingerprint images. The advantages and important results of studies conducted on latent fingerprint detection with various nanomaterials which include metal nanoparticles, metallic oxide nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, carbon dots, polymer dots, fluorescent silica nanoparticles, fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles, fluorescent silica nanoparticles, conjugated-polyelectrolyte dots, aggregation–induced emission luminogens molecule incorporated nanomaterials and uncommon earth fluorescence nanoparticles are critically discussed. Some of the nanomaterials employed for latent fingerprint detection did not result in good quality fingerprint images and these disadvantages are highlighted. More studies are therefore needed to improve the latent fingerprint detection abilities of nanomaterials.