Synthesis of Antibacterial Oxide of Copper for Potential Application as Antifouling Agent

Background: Copper oxide nanoparticles have become very important due to their numerous applications and ease of synthesis. Out of the two oxides of copper, cuprous oxide exhibits better antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifouling properties. Objective: The study aimed to find a way of synthesizing stable and eco-friendly oxide of copper and test it for antibacterial properties. Methods: The precipitation method was employed for the synthesis of nanoparticles. NaOH and Moringa oleifera leaves extract were used as the reducing agents to obtain two different sets of samples. Results: Good phases of copper oxides were formed for all the samples (cuprous as well as cupric oxides). SEM studies showed that the structure of cupric oxide (CuO), formed at higher calcination temperatures, is well defined when synthesized using a hybrid method. Conclusion: Our studies indicate that the hybrid method of synthesis used by us is a more effective and quicker way of synthesizing cuprous oxide (Cu2O), which exhibits higher antibacterial properties as compared to cupric oxide (CuO).