Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of CuS/ZrS2 Composites Prepared by Precipitation Method

The aim of this research is to investigate the antibacterial activity of CuS/ZrS2 composites synthesized via the precipitation method. The synthesis involved the combination of zirconium oxychloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2.8H2O), copper chloride dihydrate (CuCl2.2H2O), and sodium sulfide (Na2S) with ultrasonic irradiation applied at different times (60 and 120 minutes). The resulting nanocomposites were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-VIS-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The FESEM analysis revealed the morphology and size of the nanocomposites, with average particle sizes of 40.94 nm and 26.76 nm for CuS/ZrS2-60 and CuS/ZrS2-120 composites, respectively. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the composites. The antibacterial activity of the CuS/ZrS2 nanocomposites was tested against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis). The composites demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, particularly against P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis, suggesting their potential for medical and industrial applications.