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Functionalized Europium Oxide Nanoparticles for Fingerprint Detection: A Preliminary Study

NCJ Number
209477
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 55 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2005 Pages: 189-195
Author(s)
E. Roland Menzel; Jake R. Schwierking; Laird W. Menzel
Date Published
March 2005
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This preliminary study examined the use of europium oxide nanoparticles capped with amino-functionalized silane in the lipid-based detection of fingerprints.
Abstract
Even though the detection of latent fingerprints by photoluminescence techniques is widely used, a problem has been detected with this technique in background fluorescence often masking the luminescence of interest. However, europium chemical strategies are being explored to remedy some of these identified problems. This article presents a preliminary study of one such strategy, europium oxide nanoparticles capped with amino-functionalized silane. The nanoparticles are not prone to photobleaching because there are no luminescence-sensitizing ligands. Utilizing diimide-mediated amidation, targeting carboxylic acid functionalities of fingerprint constituents, the lipid-based detection of fingerprints with amino-functionalized duropium oxide nanoparticles is reported. The fingerprint photoluminescence detection can be done in the usual fashion or with time-resolved techniques that suppress background fluorescence. References