Bacillus pasteurii was used as synthesis director for the formation of hollow cylinder and helical NiO micro/nanostructure under urea hydrolysis conditions. Bacteria were capable of precipitating nickel product from nickel solution by metabolic processes. An appropriate amount of both water and bacterial solution were required to precipitate the nickel product in good yield. The average crystallite size of NiO was 11.45 nm and lengths of the cylinder and helices were non-uniform (similar to 2-7 mu m) and were varied with bacterial body structure template. The present study demonstrates a feasibility of synthesizing bacteria-guided metal oxide crystals for various functional applications.
