The pure Zinc Sulphide (ZnS) and l-Glutamic acid capped Cerium doped Zinc Sulphide nanoparticles of different concentrations (0, 5, 10 & 15 mol %) was developed via a simple chemical co-precipitation strategy. l-Glutamic acid is the a minimum hazardous, non-essential amino acid group, and its capped properties are optimal for semiconducting nanoparticles that include ZnS. It also has a considerable effect on enhancing the structural, optical, and photoluminescent properties of Ce-doped ZnS nanoparticles. The produced nanoparticles were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Photoluminescence (PL), and UV–Vis spectrometer. The XRD pattern revealed that all of the generated nanostructures have a cubic form with diffraction planes (111), (220), and (311), and the dimensions of the crystallite ranging from 1.685 nm to 2.144 nm. Its morphological view of nanoparticles was investigated utilizing FESEM. DLS testing demonstrated that the particle sizes were less than 30 nm. The functional groups of nanoparticles have been identified using FTIR investigations. PL investigations suggested the existence of substantial emission bands. The ultraviolet–visible scrutiny exhibited an optical band gap that spans 3.12–3.77 eV. The antimicrobial activity analysis was examined by the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in pure ZnS, l-glutamic acid-capped ZnS, and glutamic-capped 15 mol% Ce-doped ZnS, with their inhibitory zones also verified. Finally, it was ascertained that this type of nanoparticles was highly effective to reveal the fingerprints detection purposes in forensic applications.