Stimulus-Responsive AIE-Active Magnetic Fluorescent Composite Enables High-Quality Visualization of Latent Fingerprints on Complex Substrates
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Latent fingerprint visualization on complex substrates remains challenging because conventional fluorescent developing materials generally possess fixed emission states after deposition, limiting their adaptability toward diverse background environments. In this work, a novel AIE-active fluorescent material (B-N) was synthesized via a two-step Suzuk-Miyaura coupling and Knoevenagel condensation strategy, in which pyridine groups were introduced to impart stimulus-responsive properties for reversible fluorescence switching under external acid/base stimulation, enabling dynamic modulation of fingerprint color after development. By further integrating the AIE-active molecule B-N into a magnetic fluorescent composite system (with non-fluorescent Fe3O4 as the magnetic component), high-resolution latent fingerprint imaging was successfully achieved on eight representative substrates with different textures and background colors. More importantly, acid fumigation enabled fluorescence color regulation and improved fingerprint contrast on challenging surfaces, particularly those with strong background interference. Gray value profile analysis further confirmed clear ridge selectivity, uniform material adhesion, and stable imaging quality during the stimulus-responsive processes. Overall, this work demonstrates an adaptive strategy for latent fingerprint visualization. The findings highlight the potential of stimulus-responsive AIE materials in forensic applications.
Source: ChemRxiv
Authors: Yi Zhou, Ting Jiang, Zhen Liu, Zheng Zheng
Institution: Hefei University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221650550