An Analysis on the Effects of Metal Ion Dopant in the Structural, Optical, Morphological, and Magnetic Properties of Zinc Sulphide Nanoparticles

ZnS is a versatile functional material and ZnS nanostructured assemblies of low-dimensional nanocrystals with controllable crystal phase and morphology which are highly desirable for exploiting novel properties and extending their applications. In the current research, a detailed study on the effect of metal ion dopant (Ni) in pure ZnS nanoparticles was investigated by varying their molar concentrations in pure ZnS. The simple, more reliable, and cost-effective co-precipitation route has been adopted for the synthesis of good quality Ni-doped ZnS nanoparticles. The effect of Nickel dopants on pure ZnS and the enhancement of the structural, optical, morphological, and magnetic properties was investigated employing X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, HRSEM, and VSM. The cubic zinc blende structural formation and the effect of Nickel substituents on pure ZnS nanoparticles are confirmed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. The band gap energy of pure ZnS nanoparticles was found to show a linear decrease with the addition of Ni dopants. Thus, the present report highlights the efficiency of Ni dopants and their concentration on pure ZnS in fine-tuning the internal properties of ZnS and transforming them into ideal candidates for photocatalytic, optoelectronic, and anti-microbial applications.