Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction

Abdi Yirdew

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Review Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction

Abdi Yirdew^*

Published in World Journal of Materials Science and Technology (Volume 2, Issue 4)

Received: 11 November 2025 Accepted: 20 November 2025 Published: 11 December 2025

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Bismuth sulfide is valued for its unique physical properties like electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and concentration, suitable band gap, high X-ray attenuation coefficient, high absorption coefficient and so on, making it suitable for applications in electronics, catalysis, environmental remediation, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical fields. For instance, its semiconducting qualities and high surface area make it effective for processes like adsorption and photocatalysis and suitable band gap, stability, and visible light absorption capabilities, Bi₂S₃ shows promise for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting. Furthermore, Bi₂S₃ can be prepared utilizing controlled temperatures, precursors, and solvents via various synthesis methods, including the sol-gel method, chemical methods and chemical deposition methods. From these techniques, sol-gel method is the most common due to its cost effectiveness and ability to create high-quality materials at low temperatures. Having these as initiative concept, this review offers further studies to improve synthesis processes, optimize characteristics and explore new applications. Therefore, this work suggested that further investigation on Bismuth sulfide is needed to improve its properties for specific uses through doping as well as utilizing different synthesis techniques.

Published in	World Journal of Materials Science and Technology (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
Page(s)	46-53
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Synthesis, Characterization, Application, Properties, Nanoparticles

References

[1]	Radchenko, V., et al. (2018). Targeted alpha therapy with ^213Bi and ^212Pb: Physical and biological properties and preclinical results. Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, 48(2), 127-136. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2017.11.001
[2]	Eychenne, R., Chérel, M., Haddad, F., Guérard, F., & Gestin, J.-F. (2021). Overview of the Most Promising Radionuclides for Targeted Alpha Therapy: The “Hopeful Eight”. Pharmaceutics, 13(6), 906. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13060906
[3]	Farrell, N. P., Williamson, J., & McLaren, D. J. (1984). Effects of platinum antitumor drugs on the ultrastructure and function of Schistosoma mansoni. Biochemical Pharmacology, 33(6), 961-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-2952(84)90034-2
[4]	Ajiboye, T. O., Oyewo, O. A., & Onwudiwe, D. C. (2021). The performance of bismuth-based compounds in photocatalytic applications. Surfaces and Interfaces, 23, 100927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2021.100927
[5]	Xia, P., Song, Y. J., Liu, Y. Z., Long, M. X., Yang, C., Zhang, X. Y., & Zhang, T. (2024). Advances in the optical and electronic properties and applications of bismuth-based semiconductor materials. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 12(5), 1609-1624. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TC03329E
[6]	Jača, E., Hotař, A., Pešička, J., & Minárik, P. (2023). Oxidation properties of complex concentrated alloys FeAlCrV and FeAlCrMo. Journal of Materials Science, 58(1), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08571-8
[7]	Répichet, S., Zwick, A., Vendier, L., Le Roux, C., & Dubac, J. (2002). A practical, cheap and environmentally friendly preparation of bismuth (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate. Tetrahedron Letters, 43(6), 993-995. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)02307-3
[8]	Dutta, V., Chauhan, A., Verma, R., Gopalkrishnan, C., & Nguyen, V. (2022). Recent trends in Bi-based nanomaterials: challenges, fabrication, enhancement techniques, and environmental applications. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 13, 1316-1336. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.109
[9]	Shukla, D., Ghosh, S. B., Bandyopadhyay-Ghosh, S., & Mishra, D. (2022). Aloe-vera-based biopolymeric composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: A review. Materials Today Proceedings, 79, 198-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.10.056
[10]	Irshad, M. I., Ahmad, P., Khalid, A., Alam, M. M., Sobahi, N., Din, I. U., Nazir, R., Alharthi, A. I., Rehman, F., Yar, A., Haleem, Y. A., Wattoo, A. G., & Tahir, M. B. (2022). Evaluation of structural, magnetic and concentration dependent texture variations of electrodeposited cobalt nanowires. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 152, 107042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2022.107042
[11]	Mourdikoudis, S., Pallares, R. M., & Thanh, N. T. K. (2018). Characterization techniques for nanoparticles: comparison and complementarity upon studying nanoparticle properties. Nanoscale, 10(27), 12871-12934. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8nr02278j
[12]	Sharma, S., Kumar, D., & Khare, N. (2019). Plasmonic Ag nanoparticles decorated Bi₂S₃ nanorods and nanoflowers: Their comparative assessment for photoelectrochemical water splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44(7), 3538-3552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.11.169
[13]	Caracas, R., & Gonze, X. (2005). First-principles study of the electronic properties of A₂B₃ minerals, with A = Bi, Sb and B = S, Se. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 32(4), 295-300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-005-0441-9
[14]	Liu, Y., et al. (2022). Photoluminescence properties of Bi₂S₃ nanostructures for optoelectronic applications. Applied Surface Science, 579, 152204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.152204
[15]	Kumar, K. S., Giribabu, K., Suresh, R., Manigandan, R., Praveen Kumar, S., & Narayanan, V. (2021). Bismuth sulphide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites as an electrochemical sensing platform for hexanitrodiphenylamine. Materials Letters, 283, 128804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2020.128804
[16]	Kumar, R., et al. (2023). Bismuth sulfide as an efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 451, 138825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.138825
[17]	Liu, J., Zheng, X., Yan, L., Zhou, L., Tian, G., Yin, W., Wang, L., Liu, Y., Hu, Z., Gu, Z., Chen, C., & Zhao, Y. (2015). Bismuth sulfide nanorods as a precision nanomedicine for in vivo multimodal imaging-guided photothermal therapy of tumor. ACS Nano, 9(1), 696-707. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn506521h
[18]	Ai, K., Liu, Y., Liu, J., Yuan, Q., He, Y., & Lu, L. (2011). Large-scale synthesis of Bi₂S₃ nanodots as a contrast agent for in vivo X-ray computed tomography imaging. Imaging, 23, 4886-4891.
[19]	Wang, Z., Liu, S., Wang, L., Zou, H., Wang, Z., Tang, X., Feng, W., Chong, Y., Liu, Y., Yang, B., & Zhang, H. (2020). BiVO₄@Bi₂S₃ heterojunction nanorods with enhanced charge separation efficiency for multimodal imaging and synergy therapy of tumor. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3(8), 5080-5092. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.0c00639
[20]	Yu, H., et al. (2019). Effective radiotherapy in tumor assisted by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide-conjugated bismuth sulfide nanoparticles through radiosensitization and dendritic cell activation. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11(31), 27536-27547. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b08618
[21]	Nosrati, H., et al. (2019). Tumor targeted albumin coated bismuth sulfide nanoparticles (Bi₂S₃) as radiosensitizers and carriers of curcumin for enhanced chemoradiation therapy. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 5(10), 4416-4424. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00910
[22]	Zhang, Y., et al. (2023). Bismuth sulfide nanostructures as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Power Sources, 573, 232-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.232240
[23]	Chen, L., et al. (2022). Bismuth sulfide-based composites for efficient removal of contaminants from water: A review. Chemical Engineering Journal, 441, 137-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.137145
[24]	Chao, J., Xing, S., Liu, Z., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Zhao, L., & Fan, Q. (2018). Large-scale synthesis of Bi₂S₃ nanorods and nanoflowers for flexible near-infrared laser detectors and visible light photodetectors. Materials Research Bulletin, 98, 194-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2017.12.016
[25]	Li, H., Yang, J., Zhang, J., & Zhou, M. (2012). Facile synthesis of hierarchical Bi₂S₃ nanostructures for photodetector and gas sensor. RSC Advances, 2(15), 6258-6261. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2RA21355F
[26]	Chao, J., Zhang, Y., Xing, S., Li, H., Cui, C., & Zhou, W. (2021). Facile fabrication of bismuth sulphide microflowers for a novel type of flexible paper laser detector. Materials Science and Engineering: B, 263, 114831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2020.114831
[27]	Zhang, Y., et al. (2023). Bismuth sulfide nanostructures for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation: Mechanisms and performance. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 76, 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jechem.2022.12.034
[28]	Wang, Y., et al. (2023). Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of bismuth sulfide nanostructures. Journal of Materials Science, 58(1), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-022-06378-1
[29]	Kajana, T., Pirashanthan, A., Velauthapillai, D., Yuvapragasam, A., Yohi, S., Ravirajan, P., & Senthilnanthanan, M. (2022). Potential transition and post-transition metal sulfides as efficient electrodes for energy storage applications: review. RSC Advances, 12(28), 18041-18062. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ra01574a
[30]	Oladipo, A. A., & Mustafa, F. S. (2023). Bismuth-based nanostructured photocatalysts for the remediation of antibiotics and organic dyes. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 14, 291-321. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.14.26
[31]	Jiang, X., Song, Y., Dou, M., Ji, J., & Wang, F. (2018). Selective growth of vertically aligned two-dimensional MoS₂/WS₂ nanosheets with decoration of Bi₂S₃ nanorods by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis: Enhanced photo- and electrochemical performance for hydrogen evolution reaction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 43(48), 21290-21298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.10.158
[32]	Wang, Q., Wang, X., Lou, W., & Hao, J. (2010). Ionothermal synthesis of bismuth sulfide nanostructures and their electrochemical hydrogen storage behavior. New Journal of Chemistry, 34(9), 1930-1935. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0NJ00244H
[33]	Zhang, B., Ye, X., Hou, W., Zhao, Y., & Xie, Y. (2006). Biomolecule-assisted synthesis and electrochemical hydrogen storage of Bi₂S₃ flowerlike patterns with well-aligned nanorods. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 110(18), 8978-8985. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp060868g
[34]	Mouhib, Y., Belaiche, M., Elansary, M., & Ferdi, C. A. (2021). Effect of heating temperature on structural and magnetic properties of zinc ferrite nanoparticles synthesized for the first time in presence of Moroccan reagents. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 895, 162634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.162634
[35]	Han, X., Ge, R., Zhang, C., & Liu, H. (2022). A facile and energy-saving preparation of α-ZnMoO₄ nanorods for enhanced Li-ion intercalation application. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 291, 126737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.126737
[36]	Ajiboye, T. O., & Onwudiwe, D. C. (2021). Bismuth sulfide based compounds: Properties, synthesis and applications. Results in Chemistry, 3, 100151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2021.100151
[37]	KSharma, S., & Khare, N. (2017). Synthesis of bismuth sulfide nanostructures for photodegradation of organic dye. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1832, 050064. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4980297
[38]	Tiwari, A., et al. (2021). Chemical vapor deposition of bismuth sulfide thin films for optoelectronic applications. Materials Science and Engineering: B, 273, 115402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2021.115402
[39]	Kim, H., et al. (2023). Pulsed laser deposition of Bi₂S₃ films: Effects of laser fluence on structural properties. Applied Surface Science, 604, 154393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.154393

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Yirdew, A. (2025). Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2(4), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Yirdew, A. Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2025, 2(4), 46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Yirdew A. Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World J Mater Sci Technol. 2025;2(4):46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11,
  author = {Abdi Yirdew},
  title = {Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction},
  journal = {World Journal of Materials Science and Technology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {46-53},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  abstract = {Bismuth sulfide is valued for its unique physical properties like electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and concentration, suitable band gap, high X-ray attenuation coefficient, high absorption coefficient and so on, making it suitable for applications in electronics, catalysis, environmental remediation, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical fields. For instance, its semiconducting qualities and high surface area make it effective for processes like adsorption and photocatalysis and suitable band gap, stability, and visible light absorption capabilities, Bi2S3 shows promise for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting. Furthermore, Bi2S3 can be prepared utilizing controlled temperatures, precursors, and solvents via various synthesis methods, including the sol-gel method, chemical methods and chemical deposition methods. From these techniques, sol-gel method is the most common due to its cost effectiveness and ability to create high-quality materials at low temperatures. Having these as initiative concept, this review offers further studies to improve synthesis processes, optimize characteristics and explore new applications. Therefore, this work suggested that further investigation on Bismuth sulfide is needed to improve its properties for specific uses through doping as well as utilizing different synthesis techniques.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction
AU  - Abdi Yirdew
Y1  - 2025/12/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
T2  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
JF  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
JO  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
SP  - 46
EP  - 53
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
AB  - Bismuth sulfide is valued for its unique physical properties like electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and concentration, suitable band gap, high X-ray attenuation coefficient, high absorption coefficient and so on, making it suitable for applications in electronics, catalysis, environmental remediation, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical fields. For instance, its semiconducting qualities and high surface area make it effective for processes like adsorption and photocatalysis and suitable band gap, stability, and visible light absorption capabilities, Bi2S3 shows promise for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting. Furthermore, Bi2S3 can be prepared utilizing controlled temperatures, precursors, and solvents via various synthesis methods, including the sol-gel method, chemical methods and chemical deposition methods. From these techniques, sol-gel method is the most common due to its cost effectiveness and ability to create high-quality materials at low temperatures. Having these as initiative concept, this review offers further studies to improve synthesis processes, optimize characteristics and explore new applications. Therefore, this work suggested that further investigation on Bismuth sulfide is needed to improve its properties for specific uses through doping as well as utilizing different synthesis techniques.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Abdi Yirdew

Department of Physics, Wollega University, Nekemt, Ethiopia

Contact Email

Download PDF

Submit an Article

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Yirdew, A. (2025). Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World Journal of Materials Science and Technology, 2(4), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Yirdew, A. Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2025, 2(4), 46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Yirdew A. Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction. World J Mater Sci Technol. 2025;2(4):46-53. doi: 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11,
  author = {Abdi Yirdew},
  title = {Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction},
  journal = {World Journal of Materials Science and Technology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {46-53},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjmst.20250204.11},
  abstract = {Bismuth sulfide is valued for its unique physical properties like electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and concentration, suitable band gap, high X-ray attenuation coefficient, high absorption coefficient and so on, making it suitable for applications in electronics, catalysis, environmental remediation, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical fields. For instance, its semiconducting qualities and high surface area make it effective for processes like adsorption and photocatalysis and suitable band gap, stability, and visible light absorption capabilities, Bi2S3 shows promise for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting. Furthermore, Bi2S3 can be prepared utilizing controlled temperatures, precursors, and solvents via various synthesis methods, including the sol-gel method, chemical methods and chemical deposition methods. From these techniques, sol-gel method is the most common due to its cost effectiveness and ability to create high-quality materials at low temperatures. Having these as initiative concept, this review offers further studies to improve synthesis processes, optimize characteristics and explore new applications. Therefore, this work suggested that further investigation on Bismuth sulfide is needed to improve its properties for specific uses through doping as well as utilizing different synthesis techniques.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Review on Synthesis, Physical Properties and Applications of Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for Insight into Its Prominent Multifunction
AU  - Abdi Yirdew
Y1  - 2025/12/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
T2  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
JF  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
JO  - World Journal of Materials Science and Technology
SP  - 46
EP  - 53
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjmst.20250204.11
AB  - Bismuth sulfide is valued for its unique physical properties like electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and concentration, suitable band gap, high X-ray attenuation coefficient, high absorption coefficient and so on, making it suitable for applications in electronics, catalysis, environmental remediation, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical fields. For instance, its semiconducting qualities and high surface area make it effective for processes like adsorption and photocatalysis and suitable band gap, stability, and visible light absorption capabilities, Bi2S3 shows promise for hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting. Furthermore, Bi2S3 can be prepared utilizing controlled temperatures, precursors, and solvents via various synthesis methods, including the sol-gel method, chemical methods and chemical deposition methods. From these techniques, sol-gel method is the most common due to its cost effectiveness and ability to create high-quality materials at low temperatures. Having these as initiative concept, this review offers further studies to improve synthesis processes, optimize characteristics and explore new applications. Therefore, this work suggested that further investigation on Bismuth sulfide is needed to improve its properties for specific uses through doping as well as utilizing different synthesis techniques.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download