Fingerprints are still one of the most effective means of forensic detection but degradation during the recovery process leads to a loss of contrast between ridge and background, making them difficult to visualize. In this study spinel copper aluminate (CuAl2O4) nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile and cost effective sol-gel method and evaluated for latent fingerprints (LFPs) development on both porous (paper, ceramic, wood) and non-porous (plastic, steel, glass) substrates. Structural cha