In this work we demonstrate a composite material based on silica particles. The particles have been doped with zinc oxide quantum dots which possess long living luminescence. The surface of the particles has been functionalized with phenyl groups using sol-gel process. The new material has been successfully applied for visualization of natural latent fingermarks on several surfaces, in particular, those showing their own luminescence and intensive background staining while using powder dusting, what is of the vital interest of forensic science. The time-gated imaging allows to overcome the background luminescence problem and surface functionalization increases the affinity of the particles to the fingermarks, what improves the selectivity of a new developing agent. The main novelty of the presented approach is the use of composite material that combines two main features-long lifetime luminescence and the ability to preferentially attach to the fingermark, due to hydrophobic interactions. Moreover,the utilization of deposition from the suspension instead of simple powder dusting allows for development of latent fingermarks on the surfaces that are difficult to work with powders (e.g. sticky side of the adhesive tape).

中文翻译：

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嵌入疏水性二氧化硅颗粒中的氧化锌量子点，可用于基于时间门控发光测量的潜在指印可视化。

在这项工作中，我们演示了一种基于二氧化硅颗粒的复合材料。粒子已掺杂了具有长寿命发光的氧化锌量子点。颗粒的表面已经使用溶胶-凝胶法用苯基官能化。新材料已成功应用于可视化多个表面上的自然潜在指印，特别是那些在使用粉末喷粉时显示出自己的发光和强烈背景染色的指印，这是法医学的重要兴趣。时间门控成像可以克服背景发光问题，并且表面功能化可增加颗粒与指印的亲和力，从而改善了新显影剂的选择性。所提出的方法的主要新颖之处是复合材料的使用，该材料结合了两个主要特征-长寿命发光和由于疏水相互作用而优先附着在指印上的能力。此外，利用悬浮液中的沉积物代替简单的粉末撒粉可以在难以处理粉末的表面（例如，胶带的粘性面）上形成潜在的指印。