A pillar[5]arene-based artificial light-harvesting system with red emission for high-resolution imaging of latent fingerprints

Abstract

The development of high-performance organic luminescent materials for high-resolution imaging and identification of latent fingerprints (LFPs) has received considerable attention in recent years due to their significance in forensics and medical diagnostics. Herein, we designed and constructed a supramolecular light-harvesting system with red emission in water based on the host–guest self-assembly of a water-soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5) and a tetraphenylethylene-derived guest (G, energy donor), using a small amount of the hydrophobic dye Nile red (1%) as the energy acceptor. The prepared red-emission nanomaterials are suitable for typical powder dusting approaches for developing LFPs on various substrate surfaces. High-resolution fluorescence images of LFPs with level 1–3 details can be successfully generated. This work provides a new strategy for the creation of highly efficient red-emitting organic fluorescent materials and their application in high-contrast imaging of LFPs.