Electrochemical visualization of latent fingerprints using polyphenazine dyes on brass cartridges

Abstract

This 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 preserve genetic information while producing highquality 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 optically characterized. 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.