A novel approach to fingerprint visualization on paper using nanotechnology: reversing the appearance by tailoring the gold nanoparticles' capping ligands.

Gold nanoparticles, AuNPs, capped with mercaptocarboxylic acids followed by silver precipitation develop latent fingermarks on paper as high quality "negative" impressions. This effect stems from hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic group and the paper cellulose and may improve the yield of latent fingermarks since the results are less dependent on sweat composition.