Synthesis and characterization of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilms

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium capable of reducing various metal and sulfur compounds and precipitating them in nanoparticulate form. Here, we report the synthesis of molybdenum disulfide nanomaterials at the site of S. oneidensis biofilms grown in the presence of molybdenum trioxide and sodium thiosulfate. Samples from the growth medium were imaged using scanning electron microscopy and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. These methods revealed the presence of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticle aggregates 50–300 nm in diameter with both hexagonal and rhombohedral polytypes. As a biosynthesis method for molybdenum sulfide, the use of S. oneidensis offers the advantage of significantly reduced heat and chemical solvent input compared to conventional methods of synthesizing molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles.