Synthesis of CuO nanosheets and its applications towards catalysis and antimicrobial activity

Trace Elements Speciation Research Laboratory, Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Division,

School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore-632 014, Tamilnadu, India

E-mail : badalmandal@vit.ac.in

Medical Biotechnology Division, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore-632 014,

Tamilnadu, India

Department of Physics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India

Manuscript received online 19 September 2014, revised 07 October 2014, accepted 09 October 2014

The present study aims a simple chemical synthesis of copper oxide nanosheets (CuO nanosheets) using quinic acid as stabilizing agent at room temperature and studied its catalytic activity in reducing 4-nitrophenol as well as antimicrobial activity towards bacteria. Synthesized CuO nanosheets were characterized by using FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM. CuO nanosheets showed good catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, but poor antibacterial activity towards Gram negative and no activity against Gram positive bacteria.