Zinc molybdenum thiovanadate nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity

Infection control is a key point for maintaining and developing the healthcare sector. Nanosized metal derivatives have attracted significant interest for preventing infections caused by various bacteria and fungi. This study reports the synthesis of new sulfide nanoparticles containing bioactive Zn, Mo, and V in one structure. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis was used to determine the structure, phase purity, and crystallite size of the ZnMoVS₄ nanoparticles (NPs). The results reveal the presence of only one phase corresponding to a cubic close-packed spinel structure in the F4̄3m (216) space group. The calculated crystallite (grain) size is 16.86 nm, which falls within the nanoparticle size range. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) was utilized to verify the nanoscale size and crystallinity of the NPs and to examine their morphology. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) was used to perform elemental mapping and confirm the chemical composition of the prepared NPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was performed to confirm the presence and oxidation states of all the introduced elements. These results are consistent with the proposed chemical formula of ZnMoVS₄ for the prepared NPs. The bioactivity of the prepared NPs was studied using three waterborne Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, and Shigella flexneri. The results revealed the significant effect of the ZnMoVS₄ NPs on the studied bacteria. However, Escherichia coli showed greater suppression upon treatment than Salmonella choleraesuis and Shigella flexneri. Hence, the introduced NPs are promising antimicrobial candidates for water treatment to prevent waterborne bacterial diseases.