Multi‐Purpose Fluorescent Powder: Development of Latent Fingerprints and Glove Prints

A novel hydroxy benzothiazole based yellow fluorescent powder (labelled as 2 ‐SiO 2 ) was prepared by adsorption of 2 on silica (4 % w / w ) for visualization of latent fingerprints (LFPs) and glove prints using powder dusting method. The solid‐state spectrum of 2 ‐SiO 2 shows emission peak at 550 nm with CIE‐1931 coordinates ( ) of 0.42, 0.50 and yellow colour purity is 58.6 %. The high fluorescence of 2 in the solid‐state could be attributed to AIE+ESIPT features. Due to high fluorescence of 2 ‐SiO 2 (4 % w / w ) powder, fluorescence imaging of LFPs on a variety of porous and non‐porous substrates including glove prints, up to levels 1–3, without any post‐treatment has been achieved. The 2 ‐SiO 2 showed strong interaction with D‐Glucose, urea and lactate components present in sweat. The practical applications of 2 ‐SiO 2 powder have been demonstrated by analysis of LFPs, development of LFPs at different temperatures; aged, stained fingerprints and preservation of developed fingerprints for documentation purposes.