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Fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles via microwave and green approaches and their antimicrobial potential

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Abstract

In the present work, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were fabricated using two approaches, namely microwave irradiation (CuO(M)-NPs) and the green synthesis approach (CuO(G)-NPs). Their phase, purity, and structural parameters were confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Rietveld refinement gave an average crystallite size ranging between 17 and 12 nm. Raman analysis indicated the peak shift toward a lower wavenumber in CuO (G)-NPs, attributed to a decrease in particle size due to the addition of Zanthoxylum armatum plant extract. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs revealed the morphology with well-defined grain boundaries for CuO(G)-NPs, while diffused grains were observed for CuO (M)-NPs synthesized without the use of plant extract indicating that the plant extract restricted the agglomeration of CuO-NPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed chemisorbed species on the surface of CuO (G)-NPs, which, in turn, influenced their antimicrobial activity. Although no difference in the optical bandgap of both NPs is noticeable, the absorption intensity was higher for CuO (G)-NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) corroborated XPS findings as it revealed that CuO (G)-NP sample underwent more weight loss as the temperature increased owing to the adsorption of organic moieties. The antimicrobial activity of both samples was also evaluated using different pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The highest zone of inhibition of 23.0 ± 0.5 mm was observed for B. subtilis. The present study exhibited a swift and low-temperature protocol to enhance the antimicrobial performance of the CuO-NPs. The utilization of Z. armatum has the added advantage that nanotechnology processing industries can use this plant.

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Abbreviations

CuO (G)-NPs:

Copper oxide nanoparticles obtained via a green method

CuO (M)-NPs:

Copper oxide nanoparticles obtained using microwave irradiation

DW:

Deionized water

SAED:

Selected area electron diffraction

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to the Vice-Chancellor of Shoolini University, Solan, for supplying the required research resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, 603103, India

    Ankush Chauhan

  2. School of Applied Science and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, HP, 173212, India

    Swati Kumari & Saurabh Kulshrestha

  3. Department of Physics, Amity University, Haryana, 122413, India

    Ritesh Verma & Karambir Singh

  4. Advanced School of Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, HP, 173212, India

    Vishal Dutta

  5. Department of Chemistry, Smt. Devkiba Mohansinhji Chauhan College of Commerce and Science, University of Mumbai, Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, UT, 396 230, India

    Suresh Ghotekar

  6. Central Instrumentation Facility, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144402, India

    Manpreet Kaur

  7. Department of Environmental Engineering and Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo-Kuang Road, Taichung, Taiwan

    Kun-Yi Andrew Lin

  8. Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Sardar Patel University, Mandi, HP, 175001, India

    Rajesh Kumar

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Chauhan, A., Kumari, S., Verma, R. et al. Fabrication of copper oxide nanoparticles via microwave and green approaches and their antimicrobial potential. Chem. Pap. 76, 7147–7162 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02407-6

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