title: X-ray Powder Diffraction for Characterization of Raw Materials in Banknotes.
abstract: We report about the X-ray powder diffraction characterization of crystalline materials used to produce genuine and counterfeit banknotes, performed with a single-crystal diffractometer that permits fast and nondestructive measurements in different 0.5-mm sized areas; 20-euro denomination genuine banknotes were analyzed, and results were compared with counterfeit banknotes. The analysis shows that the papers used to print real banknotes are composed, as expected, of cotton-based cellulose and titanium dioxide as crystalline additive, but different polymorphs of TiO2for different emission countries are evidenced. The counterfeit banknotes are composed of cellulose based on wood pulp; moreover, an unexpected significant quantity of TiO2was found to be mixed with calcite, indicating that the paper employed by forgers is not simply a common low-cost type. The crystalline index and intensity ratios between the peaks attributable to cellulose and fillers can provide additional information to trace back paper suppliers for forensic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy.|Centre for Crystallography (CrisDi), University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9648-7735
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marabello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy.|Centre for Crystallography (CrisDi), University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benzi
authors.affiliation: Servizio Polizia Scientifica, Gabinetto Interregionale Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta, Via Veglia 44, 10136, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lombardozzi
authors.affiliation: Servizio Polizia Scientifica, Gabinetto Interregionale Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta, Via Veglia 44, 10136, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Morela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strano
keywords: X-ray powder diffraction; banknotes characterization; crystallinity index; forensic science; nondestructive analysis; paper characterization; semicrystalline materials