Microwave assisted green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles for environmental applications

Abstract The copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized by the microwave combustion method using moringa oleifera and punica grantum. The XRD patterns of the green synthesized CuO NPs shows similar diffraction peaks without considerable shift in the peak position. The composition, quality and chemical structure of CuO nanoparticles, were analysed by FTIR spectra, in the range of 400–4000 cm−1. The phase purity was confirmed by thermal analysis using TGA measurement. It is observed that weight loss from 100 °C to 650 °C is attributed to the plant degradation plant residue i.e., the bio-capping material present on the nanoparticles. From the DRS-UV analysis, bandgap of CuO NPs synthesized using moringa oleifera and punica grantum samples were found to be 2.8 eV & 2.18 eV respectively. The surface morphology of the samples was examined by scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the dielectric constants decreased with increase in frequency and increases as the increase in temperature. The antimicrobial activity of copper oxide nanoparticles extracted from moringa oleifera L. (A1) and punica granatum L. (A2) was determined for microorganisms.