Synthesis of star‐shaped CuO nanoparticles supported on magnetic functionalized graphene: Catalytic and antibacterial activity

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, graphene oxide was modified during consecutive functionalization steps with 1,4‐diphenylamine, cyanuric chloride, and ethylenediamine. Then, star‐shaped CuO nanoparticles were synthesized on modified graphene oxide using the seed‐mediated growth method in which nucleation, growth stages, and reduction of graphene oxide to graphene occurred simultaneously. After ensuring successful synthesis of CuO nanoparticles and to facilitate recycling, a magnetization process was utilized by adding iron oxide nanoparticles. This nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared heterogeneous catalyst was investigated for the reduction of organic dyes in the presence of NaBH4 as a reducing reagent. The kinetic data obtained for the reduction of methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), and rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) were fitted to first‐order rate equations, and the calculated rate constants for the reduction of MO, MB, 4‐NP and Rh6G were as follows: −0.091, −0.071, −0.045, and 0.040, respectively. As star‐shaped CuO nanoparticles showed a higher antibacterial effect compared to spherical‐shaped CuO nanoparticles, the antibacterial activity of star‐shaped CuO nanoparticles immobilized on magnetic functionalized graphene was evaluated against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria through an agar well diffusion assay and demonstrated more antibacterial activity against gram‐positive bacteria.