The solution plasma synthesis, characterisation, and antibacterial activities of dispersed CuO nanoparticles
Ehsan Saebnoori, Narjes Koupaei, S.A. Hassanzadeh-Tabrizi
Abstract
In the present research, CuO nanopowders with high dispersivity were synthesised using a solution plasma method. The effect of K2CO3 as an electrolyte on the phase and morphology of the products was examined. The antibacterial activity was investigated by calculating the diameter of the inhibition zone, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). The XRD results showed that the sample synthesised at a low concentration of K2CO3 had two phases of CuO and Cu(OH)2, whereas the one prepared at high electrolyte concentrations exhibited copper oxide single phase. The nanoparticles were stable and dispersed up to 10 h in water. The DLS result showed the size distribution starting from 25 to 160 nm, which confirms the powders’ high quality prepared by a solution plasma method. The antibacterial result revealed that the synthesised samples are effective as an antibacterial agent to reduce Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus activity.