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Impact of Cu doping on ZnO nanoparticles phyto-chemically synthesized for improved antibacterial and photocatalytic activities

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Abstract

Green approach was employed to synthesize Zn1 − xCuxO nanoparticles (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05). The impact of Cu doping on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated using XRD, SEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD analyses confirmed that the samples have hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallite size, lattice constants, volume of unit cell, and bond length of the nanoparticles showed increasing trend as the Cu concentration was increased from 0 to 5% and vice versa for micro-strain and dislocation density. Atomic packing fraction was found to be 74.05% and bond length was between 1.990 and 1.996 Å. SEM image showed spherical, petal, and rod-like shape. Energy band gap (Eg) of samples red shifted from 3.38 to 3.27 eV. The antibacterial results clearly showed that Cu doping in ZnO NPs improved the diameter of inhibition zone across the selected bacteria and exhibited higher degradation efficiency after 100 min of irradiation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Nano Research Group, UNN, and National Orthepedic Hospital Enugu, for giving us access to their Laboratory and to iThemba LABS, South Africa for XRD analysis.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria

    IS Okeke, AA Ubachukwu & FI Ezema

  2. National Biotechnology Development Agency, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

    IS Okeke

  3. Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria

    KK Agwu

  4. Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research, 1 Old Faure Road, 7129, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West, Western Cape Province, South Africa

    M Maaza & FI Ezema

  5. College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa

    M Maaza & FI Ezema

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  1. IS Okeke
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  2. KK Agwu
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  3. AA Ubachukwu
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Contributions

Okeke IS, Agwu KK, and Ubachukwu AA: conceptualization. Okeke IS and Ezema FI: original draft, review and editing, methodology, investigation, data curation, and formal analysis. Agwu KK, Ubachukwu AA, and Ezema FI: supervision. Ezema FI and Maazu M: characterization and interpretation of data (XRD, EDS, and SEM). Ezema FI: validation. Okeke IS: writing the manuscript. Agwu KK, Ubachukwu AA, and Ezema FI: reviewing and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to FI Ezema.

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This article is part of the topical collection: Nanotechnology Convergence in Africa

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Okeke, I., Agwu, K., Ubachukwu, A. et al. Impact of Cu doping on ZnO nanoparticles phyto-chemically synthesized for improved antibacterial and photocatalytic activities. J Nanopart Res 22, 272 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-04996-3

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