Author: H. S. Sindhushree, R.T. Radhika and B. M. Venkatesha

DOI: http://doi.org/10.31788/RJC.2026.1929560

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of novel NiS/ZrS2 nanocomposite particles via a facileelectrochemical method and evaluates their photocatalytic and antibacterial potential. Zirconiumsulphide (ZrS2), with a direct band gap of 2.48 eV, is a promising semiconductor for optical applications. The electrochemical synthesis produced NiS/ ZrS2nanoparticles, whose structural, morphological, compositional, and optical propertieswere investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Field EmissionScanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM/EDAX), and UV-Visible (UV- Vis) spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the composite, while FESEMrevealeditssurface morphology and EDAX verified elemental composition. Optical studies utilizing UV-Vis spectroscopywereemployed to determine the band gap energy, and FTIR identified functional groups. The photocatalytic performanceof the synthesized nanoparticles was assessed by studying the degradation kinetics of Methylene Blue (MB) dyeunder light irradiation. The results demonstrated efficient photodegradation, highlighting the material's potential for environmental remediation of organic pollutants. Furthermore, the NiS/ ZrS2nanoparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Bacillussubtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Staphylococcus aureus. This work presents a straightforward synthesis routefor a multifunctional NiS/ ZrS2nanocomposite with promising applications in photocatalysis and biomedical fields.

Keywords: NiS/ZrS2 Nanoparticles, Methylene Blue Dye, Electrochemical Method, Antibacterial Activity, Photocatalysis