Novel red-emitting Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphor for latent fingerprint technology

•Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphors were prepared by a solvothermal reaction method.•Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphors exhibit excellent red emission under UV excitation.•Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphor is suitable for visualization of latent fingerprints.

Fingerprints have been used in forensic investigation for the identification of individuals. Herein, we report a novel red-emitting Eu3+ ions activated rhombohedral Y4Zr3O12 nanophosphors for latent fingerprint technology. The synthesized nanophosphors exhibited the rhombohedron-like morphology. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation spectra of Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ exhibited the both charge transfer and the f-f transition bands of Eu3+ ions. The PL emission spectra displayed an intense red emission (5D0→7F2) with the color coordinates of (0.640, 0.359). The optimum concentration of Eu3+ ion in Y4Zr3O12 host lattice has been found to be at 10 mol%. Using Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphors, the latent fingerprints on different surfaces has been developed and exhibited excellent visualization with clear papillary ridges under 254 nm UV-lamp. These results suggest that the Y4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphors are promising red-emitting material for the visualization of latent fingerprints.

Graphical abstractY4Zr3O12:Eu3+ nanophosphors exhibited excellent adhesion property with ridges of latent fingerprints and facilitated the minutiae of three levels with high-quality red emission under UV illumination.Download high-res image (526KB)Download full-size image