Abstract
AbstractThis work is focused on the visualization of latent fingerprints left on unfired brass cartridges. Polymer films were prepared from 2 mM neutral red or 5 mM toluidine blue using two different electrochemical methods (cyclic voltammetry or chronoamperometry) with relatively short polymerization times. The conditions for the deposition of conductive polymers, poly(neutral red) and poly(toluidine blue), from a neutral medium (phosphate buffer with 0.1 M KNO3 or 0.1 M KNO3, respectively) were optimized to produce high-quality visualization of the remaining fingerprints on the brass substrates. The surface morphology and quality of the polymer films after the electrochemical deposition of both polyphenazine dyes were characterized by stereomicroscope. Phenazine dyes, which were used for the visualization of fingerprints, have been shown to provide different degrees of homogeneity in the deposited film. Furthermore, the dependence of the stability of the monomer solutions on their age, use, and storage conditions are discussed. Finally, a methodology is proposed for how to apply this technique of visualizing latent fingerprints with observed details of papillary lines in forensic practice.
Graphical abstract
Funder
Ministerstvo Vnitra České Republiky
University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference17 articles.
1. Daluz HM (2015) Fundamentals of fingerprint analysis. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, London
2. Slaninova T, Broncova G, Straus J, Shishkanova TV (2019) Chem Listy 113:530
3. Girod A, Ramotowski R, Weyermann C (2012) Forensic Sci Int 223:10
4. Bleay SM, Croxton RS, De Puit M (2018) Fingerprint Development Techniques: Theory and Application. John Wiley & Sons, Newark, United Kingdom
5. Girelli CMA, Lobo BJM, Cunha AG, Freitas JCC, Emmerich FG (2015) Forensic Sci Int 250:17