GREEN SYNTHESIS OF COPPER OXIDE (CuO) NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER COMPOSITES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v34i1.341288

Keywords:

Green synthesis, Copperoxide nanoparticles, Polymer composites, Electrical conductivity, Antimicrobial activity, Characterization

Abstract

In this study, metal oxide nanoparticles were obtained using a plant-leaf extract, which was an environmentally friendly synthetic method for obtaining copper oxide nanoparticles as a reducing and stabilizing agent. These nanoparticles were incorporated into various polymer matrices to increase their electrical and anti-microbial performance. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles were structurally and morphologically characterized using FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM, and EDS analyses which shows a spherical structure with an average size of 20–50 nm. Films of polymer nanocomposite were prepared using PVA, CMC, PVP and PE matrices loaded with CuO concentrations (1–7 %). Electrical conductivity measurements show an increase in conductivity with a subsequent maximum of 1.65·10-4 S/cm for the optimised film, which is due to the efficient dispersion of CuO nanoparticles, i.e., an improved energy pathway. The test with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus shows the presence of a significant inhibition zone, which indicates strong antibacterial properties of the compound. It is due to the formation of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, they caused a nanoscale interaction with the membrane of the bacteria. In general, the findings indicate that the electrical and biological properties of polymer composites can be greatly enhanced using green-synthesized CuO nanoparticles. Such polymer composites can be used in flexible electronics, antimicrobial coatings, and other applications.

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Published

2026-03-22

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Chemistry and Technologies

Section

Organic Chemistry

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