Synthesis and characterization of Zr-doped SnS2 nanopowders by a simple soft chemical route towards magnetic and antibacterial applications

Zirconium doped SnS2 (SnS2:Zr) nanopowders were synthesized by a simple soft chemical route using SnCl2
- 2H2O, thiourea (SC(NH2)2) and zirconium oxychloride (ZrOCl2
- 8H2O) as precursor salts. The thermal behavior, structural, morphological, magnetic and antifungal properties of the synthesized nanopowders was studied and the results obtained are reported in this paper. TG-DTA analysis confirms that both the undoped and doped samples become well crystallized above 377 °C. The undoped and doped samples exhibit hexagonal crystal structure with a strong (1 0 1) preferential growth. The metal sulfide (M-S) stretching frequency is observed from the presence of the peaks at 583 and 538 cm−1 in the FTIR spectra. Increased band gap values have been observed for the doped samples. Ferromagnetic orderings in the form of S-shaped loops are observed for the doped samples. Improved antibacterial efficiency was observed with Zr doping.