SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (SEM/EDX) IN FORENSIC SCIENCES: APPLICATION IN THE ANALYSIS OF GUNSHOT RESIDUES
Keywords:
forensic sciences, forensic microscopy, SEM/EDS, microtraces, gunshot residue (GSR)Abstract
This scientific paper addresses the importance and development of forensic microscopy as one of the most significant contemporary methods in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigations. Through a theoretical analysis, the paper presents the concept of forensic science, its historical development, and the role of scientific methods in the process of detection, examination, and interpretation of material evidence. Particular attention is devoted to the application of physicochemical methods, especially the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX), as a modern technique for structural and elemental characterization of materials of different origins. The paper analyzes the operating principle of the scanning electron microscope, its main components, image formation, types of signals, and possibilities of microanalysis. Special emphasis is placed on the application of the SEM/EDS method in the analysis of gunshot residue (GSR), where the determination of morphological characteristics and chemical composition of particles enables the acquisition of valuable evidence in criminal proceedings. The analysis shows that forensic microscopy, particularly the SEM/EDS method, represents an essential tool in modern forensic laboratories and contributes significantly to increasing the accuracy of examinations, identifying perpetrators, and more effectively clarifying criminal offenses.
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