Visualization of Latent Fingerprints Based on Composites of Dye-Doped Cellulose with Red Emissive Fluorescence

Abstract

Abstract Novel cellulose-based composites by integrating the rhodamine B (RhB) with cellulose microparticles are developed and used to detect latent fingerprints (LFPs). The cellulose-based composites containing the various amounts of RhB (5.4 ± 0.2, 9.7 ± 0.3, and 19.6 ± 0.3 mg g− 1) with the good photostability are obtained by simple adsorption method. Under 365 nm light irradiation, cellulose-based composite can produce the bright red fluorescence in solid-state. The images of the LFPs on the surface of the substrates with variable textures and colors are detected with integral ridge patterns and finely clear detail characteristics in level 2 and 3. The fresh and aging LFPs can be finely detected by the cellulose-based composite with the little interference of background because the red-emissive can efficiently avoid the interference from self-fluorescence of the substrates. These results suggest that the cellulose-based composite with favorable applicability and dependability can be a promising candidate for the visualization of the LFPs.