article · Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
Nanometre-scale green phosphors composed of calcium tungstate doped with terbium and lithium ions have been prepared using a facile co-precipitation method. This process enables precise control over particle composition, nanostructure, and surface condition. When excited at 255 nanometres, the nanoparticles emit bright green light peaked at 540 nanometres, closely matching standard colour coordinates. The powder functions as a luminescent marker capable of revealing fine fingerprint features, specifically level one to level three details including sweat pores, as well as lip prints across forensic classifications. Tests demonstrate high contrast and effective suppression of background fluorescence across both porous and non-porous surfaces. These properties suggest that the material offers practical potential for identifying latent forensic marks during criminal investigations, supporting forensic analysis with clear visual evidence from diverse physical surfaces.
Latent fingerprints and lip impressions left at crime scenes are often difficult to visualise clearly, especially when background surfaces interfere with conventional powders. This luminescent nanophosphor produces bright, high-contrast green marks that capture minute ridge details down to individual sweat pores, providing investigators with clearer physical evidence to assist in personal identification.
This technology offers an advanced forensic dusting powder targeting law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and forensic equipment manufacturers. It improves the visualisation of latent fingerprints and cheiloscopic marks across varied porous and non-porous materials. The work represents applied laboratory research demonstrating functional viability, though commercial translation would require scaled chemical production and standardisation for field use.
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We have developed green phosphors nanoparticles CaWO 4 :Tb 3+ co-doped Li + using facial co-precipitation process, which can accurately control the composition , nanostructure , and surface condition of luminescent NPs. The structures and morphology of the developed nanophosphores were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods. Their optical properties were performed by UV–visible, fluorescence, and FTIR methods. The phosphors exhibit green emission peak at 540 nm upon excitation at 255 nm corresponding to 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transitions characteristic of Tb 3+ with excellent CIE coordinates (x = 0.282 and y = 0.600), which are in close agreement with the regular NTSC values (xd = 0.290, yd = 0.600). This phosphor powder exhibited a flexible fluorescent mark for the detection of level 1–3 details with high contrast of latent fingerprint (LFP) and I-type V of Cheiloscopy for individual identification in forensic science . Our results reveal that the developed nanophosphors (CaWO 4 : Tb 3+ , Li + ) has potential practical application for latent fingerprint identifications on different types of non-pores and pores surfaces common to forensic cases to solve crimes and as a valuable tool for law enforcement. Also, the novel nano-phosphor has significant ability to minimise the background fluorescence interference irrespective of the surface type used.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2021.11.026
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