Structural, optoelectronic, and antibacterial properties of CuxMn1-xS nanoparticles fabricated by co-precipitation approach

Transition metal sulfides have garnered significant attention due to their distinctive properties, including electrical, optical, catalytic, and magnetic capabilities, and their potential for use in various applications. The present work discloses the fabrication of Cu_xMn_1-xS (X = 0, 0.5, and 1) nanoparticles (NPs) using the co-precipitation method. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) technique was utilized to characterize the synthesized sample, confirming that it exhibits cubic and hexagonal crystal structures. The Debye-Scherrer formula was applied to determine the average crystallite size of the nanoparticles, while the Williamson–Hall plot was employed to estimate microstrain and particle size. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis revealed that Cu, Mn, and S were present in the nanoparticles without any impurities. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was used to determine the material’s morphology and effective grain size. UV-vis spectroscopy was employed to measure the optical properties of the sample. The optical bandgap, calculated from the Tauc plot, ranged from 1.6 to 2.8 eV, indicating the presence of photovoltaic properties in the sample. The dielectric constant and loss were observed to change for the sample in the frequency range of 10 KHz to 2 MHz at room temperature. The frequency-dependent electrical conductivity, impedance, and modulus spectroscopy of Cu_xMn_1-xS were also analyzed. The dielectric study results showed that increasing frequency decreases the dielectric constant and dielectric loss. Additionally, MnS, CuS, and CuMnS NPs were screened for their antibacterial activity against gram-negative (-ve) pathogenic bacteria. Among them, CuMnS exhibited the maximum antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A pathogens.

Graphical Abstract