Volume 48, Issue 7 e70073
Research Article

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Characterization, Photocatalysis, and Biomedical Applications

Abderrhmane Bouafia

Corresponding Author

Abderrhmane Bouafia

Department of Process Engineering and Petrochemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, BP 789, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

BBCM Laboratory, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

E-mail: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
Abdelhakim Boutalbi

Abdelhakim Boutalbi

Department of Process Engineering and Petrochemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, BP 789, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

BBCM Laboratory, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

Search for more papers by this author
Salah Eddine Laouini

Salah Eddine Laouini

Department of Process Engineering and Petrochemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, BP 789, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

BBCM Laboratory, Faculty of Technology, University of El Oued, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

Search for more papers by this author
Abdelatif Aouadi

Abdelatif Aouadi

Process Engineering Laboratory, Applied Sciences Faculty, Kasdi Merbah University, Ouargla, 30000 Algeria

Laboratory Valorization and Technology of Saharan Resources (VTRS), University of El Oued, El Oued, BP 789 Algeria

Search for more papers by this author
Djamila Hamada Saoud

Djamila Hamada Saoud

Process Engineering Laboratory, Applied Sciences Faculty, Kasdi Merbah University, Ouargla, 30000 Algeria

Search for more papers by this author
Ibtissam Laib

Ibtissam Laib

Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Life, University of El Oued, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, University of El Oued, El Oued, 39000 Algeria

Search for more papers by this author
Mahmood M. S. Abdullah

Mahmood M. S. Abdullah

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia

Search for more papers by this author
Hamad A. Al-Lohedan

Hamad A. Al-Lohedan

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia

Search for more papers by this author
Farid Menaa

Farid Menaa

Department of Biomedical and Environmental Engineering (BEE), Fluorotronics, Inc.-California Innovations Corporation, San Diego, California, 92037 USA

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 30 June 2025

Abstract

Current synthesis methods for copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) use toxic chemicals, limiting their environmental and biomedical use. We used green synthesis with potato starch as a reducing and stabilizing agent, hypothesizing it would yield CuO NPs with enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties due to unique structures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a 13.92 nm crystallite size, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed flake-like aggregates, and ultraviolet (UV)–Vis revealed a 2.95 eV bandgap, indicating strong optical properties. CuO NPs achieved 99.2 % degradation of Evans Blue dye in 140 min and full atrazine degradation in 160 min, showing excellent photocatalysis. Antimicrobial assays gave inhibition zones up to 26 mm for bacteria and 14 mm for fungi at 20 mg mL−1. These results show potato starch–synthesized CuO NPs’ potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial applications, offering a sustainable option for nanomaterial synthesis.

Data Availability Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.