Carbon Dots for Forensic Applications: A Critical Review

Abstract

Owing to their superior fluorescence performance, inexpensive synthesis and nontoxic nature, carbon dots (C-dots) are systematically explored in a variety of applications; in this review, we outline and critically discuss recent trends with respect to their potential exploitation in criminal investigation, forensic toxicology and anti-counterfeit interventions. Capitalising on their colour-tuneable behaviour (in the sense that they adopt different colours with respect to the incident radiation), C-dot-based compositions are ideal for the visual enhancement of latent fingerprints, affording improved contrast against multicoloured and patterned backgrounds. As highly sensitive and highly selective optical nanoprobes, C-dots show excellent analytical performance in detecting biological compounds, drugs, explosives, heavy metals and poisonous reactants. In addition, benefiting from their versatile structural and chemical composition, C-dots can be incorporated into ink and polymeric formulations capable of functioning as a new generation of cost-effective barcodes and security nanotags for object authentication and anti-counterfeit applications. Translating these encouraging research outcomes into real-life innovations with significant social and economic impact requires an open, multidisciplinary approach and a close synergy between materials scientists, biologists, forensic investigators and digital engineers.

Synthesis and Characterization of Green Carbon Dots for Scavenging Radical Oxygen Species in Aqueous and Oil Samples

“…Furthermore, due to their ability for scavenging reactive oxygen species, CDs demonstrate significant potential, particularly for biological applications [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. CDs can be prepared from different natural resources such as albumin, chitosan, gelatin, peels of fruits, grains or other plant matters as well from vegetable wastes (e.g., apple or grape pomace), which make them “green” nanoparticles, as described in several excellent reviews devoted to the synthesis of CDs from green biomass wastes, their surface modification to improve their physico-chemical properties and their applications in bioimaging, biosensing, catalysis, forensics and optoelectronics [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The study of CDs as antioxidant nanoparticles is still in its infancy and some examples are exemplified in Table 1 , in which it could be observed that most of precursors used to produce CDs with antioxidant properties are vegetal-based materials.…”

Carbon Dots-Based Logic Gates

“…CD-based logic gates show strong potential for optical sensing, leading to new avenues for future advancement of multidirectional memory devices. There are several reviews on CDs based on their forensic applications [31], synthesis [2], bioimaging [28], and sensing [6].…”

“…CD-based logic gates show strong potential for optical sensing, leading to new avenues for future advancement of multidirectional memory devices. There are several reviews on CDs based on their forensic applications [ 31 ], synthesis [ 2 ], bioimaging [ 28 ], and sensing [ 6 ]. In addition, there are reviews on molecular logic gates based on their past, present, and future [ 32 ], fluorescent sensors [ 33 ], and biological logic gates [ 34 ].…”

Applications of Carbon Dots (CDs) in Latent Fingerprints Imaging

“…Furthermore, few more review articles too published, which covered the new synthetic strategies, physiochemical properties, luminescence mechanism, photocatalysis, biomedical applications, energy conversions and forensic applications. [15][16][17][18] In spite of tremendous applications of CDs in various capacities, its utilization in the area of fingerprints (FPs) detection is relatively new and first reported in 2015 by Kelarakis et al [19] Following the pioneering work, many research groups initiated their research in the area and contributed enormously to develop the field. In this regard, Wang et al reviewed the development of latent FPs by fluorescent nanomaterials, including CDs and UCNMs in 2017, [20] but, the article provided very concise outline on the applications of CDs.…”