A new way of detecting and visualizing fingerprints from crime scenes
using colour-changing fluorescent films could lead to higher confidence
identifications from latent (hidden) fingerprints on knives, guns,
bullet casings and other metal surfaces. The technique is the result of a
collaboration between the University of Leicester, the Institut
Laue-Langevin and the STFC's ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source, and
will be presented today at the Royal Society of Chemistry's Faraday
Discussion in Durham.
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| Images of a fingermark left on a stainless steel substrate, following enhancement by electrodeposition of polypyrrole. The light regions are stainless steel that was protected by the sweat residue that was laid on top, preventing the polymer depositing onto it. The dark regions are the polymer in between the fingerprint sweat without the fluorescence 'turned on.' (Credit: University of Leicester) |