Cadmium-free quantum dots in aqueous solution: Potential for fingermark detection, synthesis and an application to the detection of fingermarks in blood on non-porous surfaces

Moret, S; Bécue, A; Champod, C

Cadmium-free quantum dots in aqueous solution: Potential for fingermark detection, synthesis and an application to the detection of fingermarks in blood on non-porous surfaces

Moret, S

Bécue, A Champod, C

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Forensic Science International, 2013, 224 (1-3), pp. 101 - 110
Issue Date:: 2013-01-10

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	1-s2.0-S0379073812005270-main.pdf	Published Version	1.91 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Moret, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5099-4697	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bécue, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Champod, C	en_US
dc.date.available	2012-11-17	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-01-10	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Forensic Science International, 2013, 224 (1-3), pp. 101 - 110	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0379-0738	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115812
dc.description.abstract	The use of quantum dots (QDs) in the area of fingermark detection is currently receiving a lot of attention in the forensic literature. Most of the research efforts have been devoted to cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots often applied as powders to the surfaces of interests. Both the use of cadmium and the nano size of these particles raise important issues in terms of health and safety. This paper proposes to replace CdTe QDs by zinc sulphide QDs doped with copper (ZnS:Cu) to address these issues. Zinc sulphide-copper doped QDs were successfully synthesized, characterized in terms of size and optical properties and optimized to be applied for the detection of impressions left in blood, where CdTe QDs proved to be efficient. Effectiveness of detection was assessed in comparison with CdTe QDs and Acid Yellow 7 (AY7, an effective blood reagent), using two series of depletive blood fingermarks from four donors prepared on four non-porous substrates, i.e. glass, transparent polypropylene, black polyethylene and aluminium foil. The marks were cut in half and processed separately with both reagents, leading to two comparison series (ZnS:Cu vs. CdTe, and ZnS:Cu vs. AY7). ZnS:Cu proved to be better than AY7 and at least as efficient as CdTe on most substrates. Consequently, copper-doped ZnS QDs constitute a valid substitute for cadmium-based QDs to detect blood marks on non-porous substrates and offer a safer alternative for routine use. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Forensic Science International	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.11.009	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Blood	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sulfides	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Copper	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Zinc Compounds	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Polypropylenes	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Glass	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dermatoglyphics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quantum Dots	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surface Properties	en_US
dc.title	Cadmium-free quantum dots in aqueous solution: Potential for fingermark detection, synthesis and an application to the detection of fingermarks in blood on non-porous surfaces	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1-3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	224	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
utslib.for	0399 Other Chemical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1-3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	224	en_US

Abstract:

The use of quantum dots (QDs) in the area of fingermark detection is currently receiving a lot of attention in the forensic literature. Most of the research efforts have been devoted to cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots often applied as powders to the surfaces of interests. Both the use of cadmium and the nano size of these particles raise important issues in terms of health and safety. This paper proposes to replace CdTe QDs by zinc sulphide QDs doped with copper (ZnS:Cu) to address these issues. Zinc sulphide-copper doped QDs were successfully synthesized, characterized in terms of size and optical properties and optimized to be applied for the detection of impressions left in blood, where CdTe QDs proved to be efficient. Effectiveness of detection was assessed in comparison with CdTe QDs and Acid Yellow 7 (AY7, an effective blood reagent), using two series of depletive blood fingermarks from four donors prepared on four non-porous substrates, i.e. glass, transparent polypropylene, black polyethylene and aluminium foil. The marks were cut in half and processed separately with both reagents, leading to two comparison series (ZnS:Cu vs. CdTe, and ZnS:Cu vs. AY7). ZnS:Cu proved to be better than AY7 and at least as efficient as CdTe on most substrates. Consequently, copper-doped ZnS QDs constitute a valid substitute for cadmium-based QDs to detect blood marks on non-porous substrates and offer a safer alternative for routine use. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115812