AIE Active Imidazole-Stilbene\nConjugated Fluorescent\nProbes: Illuminating Latent Fingerprints and Advancing Anticounterfeiting\nTechnologies

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are\nwidely used\nin the realm of latent fingerprint visualization owing to their luminosity\nand resistance to photobleaching. However, challenges such as significant\nbackground interference and limited resolution hinder their rapid\nadvancement. Consequently, there is a pressing need to improve the\ndetailed visualization of latent fingerprint (LFP) imaging, particularly\nfor analyzing level 3 details. To address this, we have designed donor–acceptor\n(D–A) type AIEgens named <b>MMIMV</b>, <b>DMIMV</b>, and <b>TMIMV</b>. These compounds exhibit robust emissions\nranging from 481 to 552 nm and signify positive fluorosolvatochromism.\nWhen applied as powder dusting, these derivatives enable the fluorescence\nimaging of LFPs on various material substrates. The analysis of these\nimaged LFPs yields intricate details regarding fingerprint ridge patterns.\nOur results underscore the potential of highly emissive AIEgens <b>MMIMV</b>, <b>DMIMV</b>, and <b>TMIMV</b> as promising\ncandidates for fingerprint visualization, thus offering significant\nimplications for forensic investigations. Furthermore, these derivatives\nserve as effective fluorescent security inks for writing and drawing,\npresenting a novel avenue for robust anticounterfeiting applications.