Raman Spectroscopy Advances Fingermark Analysis Beyond Ridge Imaging to Chemical Profiling

A recent review article published in the journal Science & Justice describes the latest advancements in Raman spectroscopy and Raman imaging technology and how these tools are improving fingermark analysis.¹ In this study, lead author Ya-Bin Zhao and the team explained how Raman spectroscopy and Raman imaging technology can not only resolving ridge detail, but how these methods can extract chemical data that may indicate a depositor's drug use, occupation, or other population characteristics.¹

What is the problem with traditional fingermark techniques?

Fingermarks are one of the more common pieces of evidence in forensic investigations.² Decoding fingermarks helps identify suspects at crime scenes. In today’s world, fingermarks are also being used as a security measure to access tools such as banking information.²

As a result, developing good forensic fingermark recovery methods are important. Traditional fingermark techniques reveal the morphology, but the Raman-based approaches exploit the specificity of molecular vibration to identify individual chemical constituents within a print.¹

What did the researchers discuss in their review article?

In their review article, the researchers organize the latest published articles into two areas. The first area covered ridge visualization, including high-speed Raman imaging, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), flexible transfer membrane techniques, and hybrid workflows that pair SERS with conventional powder or dye developers.¹ The second addresses chemical information extraction: detecting traces of toxicants, explosives, condom lubricants, and cosmetics within a print.¹

The researchers also remarked how recent advances in nanomaterials, notably gold and silver nanoparticles and core-shell structure probes, combined with interface engineering such as self-assembled superlattices, have significantly amplified Raman signal strength, moving the technology from qualitative imaging toward quantitative chemical measurement.¹

The researchers also discussed the ongoing investigative challenge of estimating fingermark deposition time. As a result, they identified this area as a developing application, alongside multi-dimensional imaging workflows that can simultaneously map ridge morphology and chemical composition.¹

What are the current limitations of using Raman imaging technology for fingermark analysis?

The authors acknowledged that Raman imaging technology, while effective, do not resolve all issues traditional methods have. For this technology to be more widely adopted, the authors emphasized the need for further standardization of SERS substrates and imaging protocols.¹ However, what the study does show is that the industry is moving toward integration with existing casework pipelines rather than replacement of proven methods.

“Raman spectroscopy and imaging technologies, through the synergistic innovation of molecular-specific recognition and signal enhancement strategies, have emerged as core tools in fingermark analysis, spanning from morphological resolution to chemical tracing,” the authors wrote in their study.¹

References

1. Wang, L.-X.; Zhao, Y.-B.; Huang, C.-L.; Wang, Z.-H. Research Applications of Raman Spectroscopy and Raman Imaging for Fingermark Analysis. Sci. Jus. 2026, 66 (2), 101406. DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2026.101406
2. Richards, N. E.; Langley, A.; Stimpson, L. J. V. Development of Conductive Fingermarks for Forensic Applications. For. Sci. Med. Pathol. 2024, 21 (2), 702–710. DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00898-1