Low-temperature phyto-synthesis of copper oxide nanosheets: Its catalytic effect and application for colorimetric sensing

Abstract

The last decade has seen a remarkable detonation in modifying chemical processes for nanomaterial synthesis to make them 'green'. Owing to the unique properties of nanomaterial and with regard to environmental issues, in this study, a new alternative and fast eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of copper oxide nanosheets (CuO-NSs) using Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) leaf extract as a renewable and non-toxic reducing agent and efficient stabilizer was reported. It is noteworthy to mention that the present fabrication process can open up the possibility of fast, low cost and high efficiency synthesis of CuO nanostructures with an interesting morphology of nanosheets at ambient temperature and pressure. Optimization of important factors such as pH, the quantity of leaf extract, copper precursor concentration, incubation time and temperature on the formation of CuO-NSs were investigated. The formation of bioreduced CuO-NSs was certified by UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. Due to good stability, and excellent catalytic activity of the synthesized CuO-NSs, they are exerted to degrade of MB dye in water as a model color pollutant in the presence of NaBH₄ at room temperature. Furthermore, color properties of CuO nanostructures aid us to apply these biosynthesized nanomaterials in the design of optical sensors for detection of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. In view of many advantages of the current optical sensors based on CuO-NSs, such as eco-friendly, cost-effective, and straightforward design, the sensing system presents a potential application in environmental science.

Keywords: Catalytic degradation; Colorimetric sensor; Copper oxide nanosheets (CuO-NSs); Green synthesis; Terminalia catappa leaf extract.