Surface Chemistry Provoked Strategy to Develop Sustainable Latent Fingerprints Visualization and Multiple Anti-Counterfeiting Trajectory: Aggregation-Induced Emission Mechanism Based Active Conjugated Imidazole Luminogens

Abstract

Aggregation-induced emission based organic heterocyclic luminogens bearing conjugated electronic structure have paid much attention due to its excellent fluorescence in aggregation state. In this communication, novel conjugated blue light emitting imidazole molecule is synthesized by one pot multicomponent reaction route is reported for the first time. The prepared molecule exhibits a strong fluorescence in aggregation state have gain much attention owing to their unique properties, namely simple synthesis, high purity, inexpensive, eco-friendly, large scale production, high photostability, etc. By considering these advantages of the prepared luminogen, a new fluorescence based platform has been setup for in-situ visualization of latent fingerprints and its preservation by spray method followed by Poly(vinyl alcohol) masking. A clear and well defined fluorescence fingerprint images on variety of surfaces by revealing level 1–3 ridge characteristics upon ultraviolet 365 nm light are noticed. The dual nature of binding specificity as well as excellent fluorescence properties permits the visualization of latent fingerprints for longer durations (up to 365 days) with superior contrast, sensitivity, efficiency, selectivity and negligible background hindrance. We further fabricated unclonable invisible security ink and make it highly suitable for various printing modes on valuable goods for protection against forging. The developed labels are displaying uniform distribution of ink and exceptional stability under various atmospheric environments. The development of long preservative forensic information as well as invisible ink opens new avenue in advanced forensic and data security applications.