Now, high quality prints of hidden fingerprints can be produced in just three minutes –using nanotechnology! The new process uses gold nanoparticles suspended in a stable solution of petrol ether, in which the nanoparticles “stick to the fingerprint residues through hydrophobic interactions.” It is confirmed by other experts in forensic science.
The Israeli researchers who designed this new way have replaced the traditional gold solution with a more stable equivalent — gold nanoparticles bristle with long hydrocarbon chains - which are suspended in petrol ether.
It is through hydrophobic interactions, the nanoparticles stick to the fingerprint residues. It can now be developed with silver as before. It eventually produces high quality prints after immersing them for just three minutes time!
The team has also developed a fingerprinting method for non-porous surfaces. For this, they used a petrol ether suspension of cadmium selenide/zinc sulphide nanoparticles, which are stabilized by long chain amines.
Unlike the team’s gold solution, the nanoparticles in this method fluoresce under UV light. It reveals clear fluorescent prints without needing any additional developing stage.
Photo Credit: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
