Green synthesis of carbon dots encapsulated MoO3:La3+ for enhanced photocatalytic degradation, dactyloscopy and real-time FP detection using YOLOv8x

Abstract

Background

Industrial dye pollution poses severe environmental threats, necessitating efficient and sustainable removal strategies. Additionally, forensic and biometric applications require high-resolution fingerprints (FPs) detection for accurate identification. This study develops carbon dots (CDs) integrated MoO₃:1 %La³⁺ nanocomposites (NCs) for photocatalytic dye degradation and forensic applications, offering a multifunctional approach to environmental remediation and FP visualization.

Methods

The NCs were synthesized using a green approach with neem leaf extracts and characterized via XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic efficiency was assessed through methyl orange (MO) degradation, while seed germination tests using Pisum sativum evaluated environmental safety. Additionally, the YOLOv8x deep-learning model was trained for enhanced latent fingerprint (LFP) detection and analysis.

Significant Findings

NCs exhibited 99.4 % MO degradation within 70 min, detecting MO at concentrations as low as 0.032 μM. Post-treatment analysis confirmed complete degradation. Seed germination tests showed improved root (6.24 cm), shoot (7.83 cm), and germination energy (84 %), validating detoxification. NCs enhanced FP visualization, while YOLOv8x achieved over 90 % mean average precision (mAP) in minutiae detection, outperforming traditional methods. This work establishes CDs/MoO₃:1 %La³⁺ NCs as a multifunctional solution for environmental remediation, agriculture, and forensic applications.