Ultrasound assisted sonochemically engineered effective red luminescent labeling agent for high resolution visualization of latent fingerprints

Abstract Nanoscience and technology finds wide range of benefits in the area of surface based science due to its nano size and high surface area. This offers new potentials in surface-based science comprising latent fingerprint (LFP) and to develop luminescent ink for anti-counterfeiting applications. Due to high backward hindrance, low sensitivity, complicated setup, and poor universality of traditionally developed techniques were main drawbacks for the visualization of LFPs. To overcome these problems, we explored the superstructures (SS) of europium ions doped BaTiO3 nanophosphors (NPs) prepared via sonochemical route with bio-template as surfactant for the detection of LFPs and as an anti-counterfeiting ink. The morphologies of SS were highly dependent on the concentration of Aloe vera (A.V.) gel as well as ultrasound irradiation time. The obtained SS displayed pure red emission which corresponds to the 5D0 → 7FJ transitions of Eu3+ ions under UV light. The results clearly evident that the optimized BaTiO3:Eu3+ NPs will create a new prospect for research in LFPs visualization and anti-counterfeiting technology.