Issue 8, 2015

Dual-emitting quantum dot nanohybrid for imaging of latent fingerprints: simultaneous identification of individuals and traffic light-type visualization of TNT

Abstract

Fingerprints are a unique characteristic of an individual. Recently, it has been realized that fingerprints carry more information about individuals than just their identity, for example, they may identify potential addicts and terrorists carrying explosives. Therefore, the development of imaging moieties capable of both fingerprint staining and drug/explosive visualization is of significant importance for forensic chemistry. Here we developed a nanohybrid comprising green- and red-emitting QDs for simultaneous fingerprint imaging and TNT visualization in fingerprints. The red-emitting Cu-doped ZnCdS (Cu–ZnCdS) QDs were embedded into silica nanoparticles and the green-emitting ZnCdS QDs were anchored onto the surface of the silica nanoparticles and further functionalized with polyallylamine (PAA). Both components of the nanohybrid, i.e., the PAA-functionalized green QDs and red QD-doped silica nanoparticles, could be explored for fingerprint imaging. Due to the formation of a Meisenheimer complex between TNT and PAA, the green-emitting QDs could be quenched by TNT, meanwhile the red-emitting QDs were inert. Therefore, the nanohybrid exhibited a traffic light-type fluorescence color change (green-yellow-red) to TNT concentration in the range of 40–400 μM. This method is promising for potential applications in security-screening needs in public areas such as airports and train stations.

Graphical abstract: Dual-emitting quantum dot nanohybrid for imaging of latent fingerprints: simultaneous identification of individuals and traffic light-type visualization of TNT

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
24 Apr 2015
Accepted
21 May 2015
First published
21 May 2015
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2015,6, 4445-4450

Dual-emitting quantum dot nanohybrid for imaging of latent fingerprints: simultaneous identification of individuals and traffic light-type visualization of TNT

P. Wu, C. Xu, X. Hou, J. Xu and H. Chen, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 4445 DOI: 10.1039/C5SC01497B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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