Nickel doped bismuth sulfide nanomaterials: Synthesis, characterization, and enhancement of anti-microbial activity

This study aims to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of pristine Bi2S3 and Ni-doped Bi2S3 nanostructures for their anti-microbial study. The nanostructures were synthesized by the reverse micelle method using the AOT/Water/Cyclohexane ternary system. As per our knowledge, the current study shows the lowest value of MIC compared to reported work for pristine Bi2S3 against Staphylococcus Aureus and Bacillus Subtilis pathogens. The compositional, structural, morphological, optical, and vibrational properties of synthesized Bi2S3 and Ni-doped Bi2S3 nanomaterials were investigated using EDAX, X-ray diffraction, HR-TEM, DLS, diffuse UV–Vis reflectance spectroscopy, room temperature, and low-temperature Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Finally, the anti-microbial activity of synthesized nanostructures against four different pathogens was examined using the broth dilution method in terms of MIC value. The result of MIC reports that pristine Bi2S3 and Ni-doped Bi2S3 nanomaterials have a strong anti-microbial effect for two Gram-negative Serratia Marcescens and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa compared to two Gram-positive Staphylococcus Aureus and Bacillus Subtilis micro-organisms.