SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF

ANTIMICROBIAL COPPER OXIDE

NANOPARTICLES
JUGAL SUGGALA KULDEEP SAI
SENSE SENSE
VIT UNIVERSITY VIT UNIVERSITY
VELLORE, INDIA VELLORE, INDIA
jugal.suggala2017@vitstudent.ac.in Kancharlakuldeep.sai2017@vitstudent.
ac.in

Abstract— Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were
synthesized and characterised with respect to potential
antimicrobial applications. WHO has shown its concern
towards the increasing resistance of the microbes against
various medicines and anti-microbial chemicals. N.P.s were
synthesized by Electrochemical Synthesis, synthesis of
chemical compounds in an electrochemical cell. The
solution synthesized contains Cu and CuO (due to oxidation
of Cu) nanoparticles and some traces of Cu2O particles. UV
visible spectroscopy of the sample resulted in an absorption
peak of approximately 295 nm, similar to that of CuO
nanoparticles, indicating that majority of the particles are
CuO nanoparticles.
Keywords— Nanoparticles, Copper oxide, Antimicrobial,
Electrochemical synthesis, Ascorbic acid
Introduction
There are undoubtedly several methods for synthesis of Cu
nanoparticles and we have used one of them. This study is
based on CuO nanoparticles produced by a process called
Electrochemical Synthesis, which is quite similar to
electrochemical cell process used in the field of chemistry.
Materials and Apparatus
Copper nanoparticles synthesis needs very basic chemicals
and equipment and this is the advantage of electrochemical
synthesis. All the materials and apparatus were provided by
our university’s general and research laboratories. These are
the materials required – Two copper sheets (provided by the
Nanotechnology lab), ascorbic acid [2g], Chitosan[0.5g],
provided by the general engineering chemistry lab, and the
apparatus – beaker [200ml], electric supply, magnetic stirrer,
water boiler, all were provided by the SENSE lab, seventh
floor, Technology Tower (TT).

The high occurrence of resistance of different

microorganisms to the majority of antimicrobial agents is Preparation Method
attracting a great deal of attention. Resistance of
microorganisms to antibiotics is steadily rising day by day. We used a technique called ‘electrochemical synthesis’ for
Nanotechnology is a field of science with vast potential in the preparation of copper nanoparticles. Usually, copper
medical physics. If we combine nanoscience and biology, we nanoparticles are not stable and will slowly oxidize in to
can achieve great success in obtaining highly efficient copper oxide nanoparticles with time. It would usually
technologies and medicines for fighting against all types of happen within one to two days. Liquid copper nanoparticle
microbial organisms. Further, metallic nanoparticles have a dispersion would appear in beautiful golden yellow color
great potential in this field due to some specific properties and will slowly turn to reddish black color when it oxidizes
which can damage the living body cells of microbial in to metal oxide nanoparticles of copper.
organisms and make them inactive. Electrochemical synthesis in chemistry is the synthesis of
chemical compounds in an electrochemical cell. The main
The most significant are the copper nanoparticles and
advantage of electrosynthesis over an ordinary redox
copper-oxide nanoparticles due to their amazing
reaction is selectivity and yield which result from control of
antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Copper is used for
the cell potential.
this purpose because of its availability and cheap price as
compared to other metals such as silver. This study is for
synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles and
for investigating their antifungal action. Cu N.Ps are reported
to have antimicrobial activity against a number of species of
bacteria and fungi. Previous studies have indicated that
copper nanoparticles have antimicrobial activity against E.
coli and Staphylococcus species.

Authors: Jugal and Kuldeep, Tel. 9650795718

Email address: jugal.suggala2017@vitstudent.ac.in

Abbreviations
1. CuO: This refers to copper oxide nanoparticles in
this report, and more briefly, antifungal or
antimicrobial copper-oxide nanoparticles.
2. WHO: The World Health Organization is a
specialized agency of the United Nations that is
concerned with international public health. It was
established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered
in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of
the United Nations Development Group.
3. N.P.s: This is the abbreviation for nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles are basically chemicals or materials
with their size between 1-100nm, called the
nanoscale.
Sample Preparation
A. Preparation method
a) Step 1: Add water to the glass beaker and bring it
to boil. Then take the heat away and add ascorbic acid (or
vitamin C pills) and chitosan and stir until they dissolve
completely.
b) Step 2: Setup the electrodes and spacer and connect
them to the positive and negative wires of the DC power
supply.
c) Step 3: Turn on the power supply and set the
voltage to a value between 6-12 V while the solution is still
hot. If the connection is right, you would see small bubbles
appearing from the cathode (the copper rod connected to the
negative wire of the power supply)
d) Step 4: Keep the solution stirring. You would see
the solution will slowly turn to light yellow color which
develops in to a beautiful golden yellow color with slight
reddish tint. This is when you should turn off the power
supply.
e) Step 5: If everything went well, you will have a
nice liquid copper dispersion having diameter in submicron
range. It’s usual that you will have some component of
particles with diameters higher than 100 nm. But that’s okay
for a home experiment. If there are lot of these big particles,
liquid copper dispersion would appear as blackish brown in
color instead of bright yellow.
Formation of CuO N.P.s
In acidic conditions, copper metal (Cu) in the anode (copper
rod attached to the positive wire of the power supply)
oxidizes (loses electrons) to form copper ions (Cu+2). These
copper ions are released to the solution and will slowly
travel towards the cathode (copper rod attached to the
negative wire of the power supply). At the cathode, these
copper ions will gain electrons and reduces back to copper
metal, leaving a metal deposit on the cathode side. This is
the main concept behind, electrodeposition.
However, our system is bit different. We have ascorbic acid;
a reducing agent (chemical that can donate electrons to
induce reduction) in our solution. Also we heat up the
solution to spice things up. Now, for the copper ions that are
traveling across the solutions, the journey would not be as
easy. This is because, copper ions present the ideal
opportunity for ascorbic acid molecules to give off their
electrons and reduce the copper ions to copper metal.
Therefore, in our system copper particles will be formed
well before copper ions reach to the cathode.
Ascorbic acid, will not only function as a reducing agent but
also as a capping agent. This means that when small copper
particles are formed, ascorbic acid molecules will cap or
surround the particle making it difficult for similar copper
particles to come near to each other. This prevents the
uncontrolled growth of the particles to micron sized
dimensions.
 UV absorption peak from net

UV absorption spectra of our sample

Characterization
Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy was performed for the CuO
nanoparticle sample and the absorption peak was observed
to be 295 nm which is approximately equal to the actual
measured value (~297 nm) in different researches performed
across the world.
Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/UV-Visible-
spectra-of-CuO-nanoparticles_fig4_224903809
Results and Discussion
Ultraviolet Visible spectroscopy was succesfully
performed in the lab and the peak of the absorption
spectra occurred at ~295 nm as mentioned
above.This wavelength corresponds to CuO
absorption peak and this shows that majority of the
particles are CuO nanoparticles, though it is usual
that there might be some unoxidized Cu
nanoparticles left and some Cu2O nanoparticles
which may be considered as impurities.
Absorption spectra of CuO nanoparticles are shown
in above figure ( in previous page) which show a
strong fundamental absorption edge approximately
295 nm due to direct transition of electrons. Optical
absorption shows that the direct band gap compared
to indirect band gap permits us to determine the
crystallinity of a material. The calculated direct band
gap value was 3.85 eV, which was higher than the
bulk band gap value (3.5 eV).
At the end of the preparation we first get a golden
yellow coloured solution which eventually turned to
slight reddish-orange within one day and the CuO
nanoparticle solution was ready.
Bio-Medical Applications of CuO N.Ps
CuO nanoparticles are mainly utilized as antimicrobial
agents. They are used in hospitals due to their antimicrobial
ability to kill more than 99.9% of Gram-positive and
negative bacteria within 2 h of exposure, if a suitable dose is
applied. Studies reported that the utilization of CuO reduces
the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections and the costs
associated with health care in health care facilities. Bed
sheets containing CuO NPs are considered one of the most
interesting innovations in medical care, since they reduce
microbial attachment and thus microbial infections within
hospitals.
Some advantages of using copper-oxide in hospital textiles
are:
(1) It is effective against both, susceptible and antibiotic
resistant microorganisms involved in nosocomial
infections;
(2) It has wide antifungal spectrum and antibacterial
properties;
(3) It inhibits biofilm or the development of
microorganisms in attached communities on the
surface of materials coated with CuO NPs;
(4) It does not cause skin irritation or sensitization;
(5) It is safe for humans if used externally and in low
amounts.
Another application of these nanoparticles relies in their
wound healing activity. Various wound dressings and
textiles have been developed to treat burns and other
skin injuries. The healing activity is proved to be strictly
correlated with the capacity of CuO NPs to limit
microbial colonization of the treated areas as well to
avoid infection, while promoting regeneration of
damaged tissue.

Conclusion
Copper nanoparticles are very interesting, not only because
they show unique nanoscale phenomena like plasmonic
absorption and high surface to volume ratio, but also due to
useful properties like antibacterial and fungicidal activity.
Copper nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles of
copper have widespread commercial presence, especially as
fungicides. Copper fungicides are extremely effective
against certain species of fungi that are common agricultural
pathogens. Copper nanoparticles show good to great
antimicrobial property against many pathogenic microbes
and also used as a commercial antimicrobial agent. Liquid
copper dispersions are used as an antimicrobial spray or to
prepare antimicrobial surfaces. Other copper nanoparticle
applications include conductive ink, chemical sensors, bio
sensors etc. Some of these applications may be difficult for
you to reproduce at home. But you can definitely test what
we discuss in this article as an antimicrobial and/or
fungicidal agent. You can also try using this suspension as
an antimicrobial spray. If you have a plant or a crop affected
by a fungal disease you can try spraying this solution just to
see the effect.
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