Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Cupric Oxide Loaded 2D Structure Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) Nanocomposite: In Vitro Anti-Bacterial and Fungal Interaction Studies

Abstract

The active and inexpensive catalyst cupric oxide (CuO) loaded foliar fertilizer of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is investigated for biological applications due to its low cost and easy synthesis. The synthesized CuO NPs, bulk g-C3N4, exfoliated g-C3N4, and different weight percentages of 30 wt%, 40 wt%, 50 wt%, 60 wt%, and 70 wt% CuO-loaded g-C3N4 are characterized using different analytical techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The nanocomposite of CuO NPs loaded g-C3N4 exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The 20 μg/mL of 70 wt% CuO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite showed an efficiency of 98% for Gram-positive bacteria, 80% for E. Coli, and 85% for P. aeruginosa. In the same way, since the 70 wt% CuO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite showed the best results for antibacterial activity, the same compound was evaluated for anti-fungal activity. For this purpose, the fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma viride were used. The anti-fungal activity experiments were not conducted in the presence of sunlight, and no appreciable fungal inhibition was observed. As per the literature, the presence of the catalyst g-C3N4, without an external light source, reduces the fungal inhibition performance. Hence, in the future, some modifications in the experimental conditions should be considered to improve the anti-fungal activity.

Waste Biomass-Derived Activated Carbon-Supported 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D Nanostructures of Copper Oxide for Hydrogenation Reaction: A Study on the Role of Structural Properties

“…Nanomaterials have been used in many applications, such as catalysis, water splitting, supercapacitors, biology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, etc. ,, In benchmark studies, the two main factors that dictate nanomaterial behavior are surface effects and quantum effects. These effects enhance the physiochemical properties such as catalytic, mechanical, thermal magnetic, and optical properties.…”

“…In this study, various morphologies of copper-based metal oxide catalysts such as spheres, rods, belts, rolling pins, octahedrons, and throne, have shown high activity in heterogeneous catalysis due to their better physicochemical properties. Despite being widely studied, CuO nanocatalysts remain unexplored in catalysis, particularly with respect to its various shapes. , Research has shown that shape effects play a crucial role in organic reactions, with surface energy, surface area, structures, and active sites being key features. For example, nanocubes have been found to exhibit a higher rate of reduction in the hydrogenation reaction of the nitro compounds by silver nanoparticles due to their different facets and higher adsorption sites.…”