A new technique to make fingerprints "glow" under UV light could be a major breakthrough in the field of forensics.

To accomplish this, the researchers simply applied a drop of liquid containing crystals to the surface. The breakthrough provides a greater contrast between print and surface, allowing for higher resolution images in a shorter period of time than current techniques, CSIRO reported.

"While police and forensics experts use a range of different techniques, sometimes in complex cases evidence needs to be sent off to a lab where heat and vacuum treatment is applied," said CSIRO materials scientist Kang Liang. "Our method reduces these steps, and because it's done on the spot, a digital device could be used at the scene to capture images of the glowing prints to run through the database in real time."

The researchers demonstrated the tiny crystals could bind to the peptides, fatty acids and salts in fingerprint residue, creating a thin film of coating that precisely replicates the pattern.

"Because it works at a molecular level it's very precise and lowers the risk of damaging the print," Liang said.

The team tested their new method on surfaces such as windows, wine glasses and other nonporous surfaces. They were able to clearly detect fingerprints on these materials with considerable success. The crystal solution could lower the monetary and time costs associated with the common "dusting" fingerprint detecting technique. The crystals also do not create any dust or fumes, so they is less risk of waste or harmful inhalation. Liang was inspired to look for ways to move on from the old-fashioned dusting method after his own home was broken into.

"When my house was broken into I saw how common practice fingerprinting is for police," he said."Knowing that dusting has been around for a long time, I was inspired to see how new innovative materials could be applied to create even better results.

The findings were reported in a recent edition of the journal Advanced Materials.