Amount Of Cu Research Articles

Facile fabrication of a superior electrochemical sensor with anti-fouling properties for sensitive and selective determination of glutathione

A novel electrochemical sensor was proposed for sensitive and selective detection of glutathione (GSH). The as-fabricated sensor composed of chitosan (Chit), polyethylene glycol (PEG-OH), porous magnesium metasilicate (PMMS), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Chit and PEG were used as anti-fouling nanomaterials, while PMMS acted as a porous adsorbent that loads large amounts of Cu(II). AgNPs increased the conductivity and the electro-catalytic activity of nanocomposite; besides, it enhanced the adsorption of GSH. Based on the electro-catalytic ability of Cu(II) released from Cu(II)-PMMS, the platform could achieve sensitive and selective determination of GSH without the addition of free Cu(II) in the measured solution. Under optimal conditions, a characteristic peak of GSH-Cu(II) was observed at ca. 0.43 V, which was increased linearly with GSH concentration in the range 0.1 to 125 µM with a detection limit (LOD, S/N = 3) of 0.03 µM. The sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity, anti-fouling performance, good selectivity, and sufficient stability. More importantly, the sensor was successfully applied for the estimation of GSH in dietary supplements and human plasma serum samples with acceptable recoveries % (98.3–104.1%) and RSDs values not more than 3.2%. These results proved that the as-fabricated sensor can be used for monitoring of GSH during medical diagnosis.

Effect of humic acid on phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sediment

The phytoremediation performance of Mentha Aquatic, Typha Orientails Presl, Tagetes Patula L. and Iris Tectorum Maxim was investigated by pot experiments to remediate the heavy metal contaminated sediment added with 1‰, 3‰, and 5‰ humic acid (HA), respectively, over 60 days. The results showed that the four hydrophytes could get a better accumulation for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni from sediments with 3‰ HA as amendment. While, Mentha Aquatic, Typha Orientails got the maximum accumulation amount of Cu, Pb with 5‰ HA as amendment. As for Typha Orientails Presl, Tagetes Patula L. and Iris Tectorum Maxim, 3‰ HA was the optimum addition for sediments to accumulate Cd, with over 10% increase compared to the control sediment. An appropriate amount of HA as amendment can decrease the percent of residual fraction and improve the phytoremediation for metal contaminated sediments.

Polyaniline and Copper based nanometal surface energy transfer probe for efficient turn-on bovine serum albumin sensing

In the present study, we have investigated the energy transfer mechanism owing to the interaction between colloidal Cu nanorods and polyaniline as a function of varying amounts of Cu. XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM examined the sample's structural and morphological characteristics, and the optical characteristics were explored by UV–Vis absorbance, photoluminescence, and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. The steady-state photoluminescence exhibits quenching behaviour and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements exhibit lifetime reduction in accordance with the nanometal surface energy transfer theory, following 1/d4 distance dependency from polyaniline to the surface of Cu. With the increasing quencher (Cu) concentration, quenching efficiency and rate of energy transfer increase, whereas a decrease in the distance between Cu and polyaniline has been observed. Our research attempts to see if such nanohybrid comprising polymer–noble metal nanoparticles could be used as sensitive biosensors. Hence, the nanohybrid system consisting of Cu and polyaniline has been employed in the potential bovine-serum albumin sensing, which showed an excellent detection limit of 15.3 nM. The Cu- PANI pair also exhibits excellent selectivity amidst the other possible interfering compounds.

Copper removal from wastewater and electricity generation using dual-chamber microbial fuel cells with shrimp shell as the substrate

High-content solid waste (HCSWs) contains numerous polysaccharides and is widely recognized as an energy-generating substance. However, detailed studies on the use of HCSWs as substrates in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to generate electricity and remove heavy metals from wastewater are scarce. In this study, the effects of shrimp shell (SS) and sodium acetate (SA), which are complex and simple substrates, respectively, as anodic carbon sources on the electricity generation performance of dual-chamber MFCs and the removal of Cu at the cathode were investigated. The structural characteristics of the anodic microbial communities of the MFCs were analyzed in terms of substrate type and concentration. The results demonstrated that the maximum voltage (206 mV) and maximum power density (28.82 mW/m2) of the MFC-SA were higher than those of the MFC-SS groups. The operating time and maximum power density increased with increasing SS concentration, and the maximum power density reached 24.75 mW/m2 at an SS concentration of 16 g/L. The Cu2+ ions in the catholyte were primarily reduced to elemental Cu and small amounts of Cu2O or CuO. The higher the concentration of SS, the higher the Cu removal rate, the greater the total amount of Cu removed, and the higher the MFC removal capacity. Pseudomonas was the only electroactive microorganism in the raw sludge, whereas Geobacter, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Desulfovibrio, and Desulfosporosinus were detected in the MFCs at the end of the experiment. The relative abundance of the electroactive microorganisms increased from 19.4% to 36.0% as the SS concentration increased from 2 to 16 g/L. These results suggest that SS can be used as substrate for HCSW degradation to provide the energy required for heavy-metal reduction.

Investigation of photocatalytic activity (under visible light) of ultrathin CZTS films produced in different thicknesses by PLD method

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films in 61 nm, 112 nm, 242 nm and 313 nm thickness which have been produced by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) on Soda Lime Glass substrates as a function of the number of laser pulses. As the deposition of ablated material has been augmented with increasing number of laser pulses, it has been noticed that CZTS-ultrathin film’s thicknesses and particle sizes have been increased, their crystalline structures have been improved. Larger particles limit the transmission of light and cause thin films to absorb photons. The band gaps of CZTS (61 nm), CZTS (112 nm), CZTS (242 nm) and CZTS (313 nm) thin film which have been determined to be 1.95 eV, 1.90 eV, 1.50 eV and 1.45 eV, respectively. CZTS (61 nm) ultrathin film with the thinnest one among the thin films produced in this work, which is Cu and S poor but Sn and Zn rich. By increasing the thickness of the film, it has been observed that the amount of Cu and S were increased, and the ratio of Sn and Zn were decreased. In addition, it has been systematically investigated that the photocatalytic activity of the ultra-thin CZTS films coated in different thicknesses by PLD method. Among all the photocatalysts, the CZTS (in 242 nm thickness) photocatalyst has exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance, managing to remove 96.1% of methylene blue (MB) in 240 min. Furthermore, the mechanism that performs photocatalysis has been investigated by scavenger experiments, and it was observed that \({}^{ \cdot }O_{2}^{ - }\) radical ions have an important role in the reaction, while holes have little effect.

Immobilization of Zn(Ⅱ) and Cu(Ⅱ) in basic magnesium-sulfate-cementitious material system: Properties and mechanism

To solve the environmental problems caused by heavy metal pollution, a new cementitious material (basic magnesium sulfate cement, BMSC) was developed for the solidification of Cu2+/Zn2+. First, the effects of different amounts of Cu2+/Zn2+ on the properties (compressive strength, setting time, pH, and leaching toxicity) of the BMSC were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to investigate the effects of different amounts of Cu2+/Zn2+ on the phase and microstructure of BMSC. The results showed that Cu2+/Zn2+ inhibited the hydration of BMSC, reduced compressive strength, and prolonged the setting time. The results of the leaching tests showed that the BMSC system exhibited high immobilization efficiency (up to 99%) for Cu2+/Zn2+. Further, the BMSC solidification matrix exhibited excellent acid resistance (compressive strength >40 MPa after 28 days of immersion). The physical phase analysis showed that the main phases of BMSC were the 5Mg(OH)2-MgSO4-7 H2O (5−1−7) phase and Mg(OH)2, and the crystal structure refinement analysis suggested that Cu2+/Zn2+ ions were substituted with Mg2+ in the 5–1–7 phase. It was confirmed that the solidification mechanism of BMSC on Cu2+/Zn2+ is mainly performed by chemical complexation and ionic substitution.

Construction of antifouling Cu-modified TiO2 coating via micro-arc oxidation: The influence of Cu content

As an effective antimicrobial element, the incorporation of Cu into the surface layer of metallic Ti substrate is regarded as a promising method to enhance its antifouling phenomenon. In this work, a micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process was conducted in an aqueous electrolyte containing Na2Cu-EDTA to produce a Cu-modified TiO2 coating on metallic Ti. The influence of Na2Cu-EDTA concentrations on microstructural feature, corrosion resistance and antifouling capability of the Cu-modified TiO2 coatings were examined. The results indicate that an increased amount of Cu could be incorporated into TiO2 with a higher concentration of Na2Cu-EDTA, which also affects the micro-arc discharge events and, consequently, the morphological features of the coating. The content of incorporated Cu determines the antifouling performance of Cu-modified TiO2 coating, which remains harmless to the corrosion resistance.

EFFECTS OF FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION LEVELS ON PHYTOREMEDIATIONPROPERTIES OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

The experiment was set up in the greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade with the aim of investigating potential of perennial ryegrass (Loliumperennial L.) to grow on substrates of exceptionally unfavorable characteristics. Tailings, characterized by very poor physical and chemical properties and deficiency in nutrients were used as substrate. The research examined effects of three different fertilizers and two irrigation levels on plant growth and assimilation of Cu and Cd. There were statistically highly significant differences in plant height between plants treated with different fertilizers. Plants treated with organic fertilizer were tallest at 45.8 cm, while the plants treated with mineral fertilizer were shortest at 22.5 cm. Amounts of the assimilated metals varied between different type of fertilizers. The highest content of Cu, about 75 mg kg-1 was recorded in plants treated with mineral fertilizer and irrigated moderately while the lowest concentrations of about 30 mg kg-1were measured in the same plants after the first cutting. There were no differences among plants treated with organic fertilizers in Cu amounts,under two irrigation levels. The second cutting showed a small increase in the assimilated amounts of Cu. Highest Cd concentration of 2.7 mg kg-1 was recorded in the plants treated with combination of both organic and mineral fertilizers.

Research on the adsorption of melamine for Cu(II) and Pb(II)

Melamine contains three aromatic nitrogen atoms and three free amino groups, which have great adsorption potential for heavy metallic ions in wastewater. The sorption performances of melamine for Cu(II) and Pb(II) ( They are denoted as Cu&Pb) were studied. Some major effects such as adsorption time, original concentration, and temperature on its adsorption performances were studied. The effects confirmed that melamine had true adsorption for Cu&Pb, and higher selectivity for the adsorption of Cu&Pb in a binary blended system. The adsorption amount of Pb(II) on melamine reached 4.91 mg/g at pH 5, adsorption equilibrium time of 12 h, and temperature of 55 °C, while the sorption amount of Cu(II) was only 2.70 mg/g, with a difference of about 1.8 times. The adsorption mechanism shows that the sorption of Cu&Pb on melamine follows the Lagergren quasi-second-order kinetic model. This result indicates that the mixture of Cu&Pb can be separated by stepwise processes from a binary mixed system.

D-NH2-MIL-125 doped with Cu NPs for light-driven hydrogen evolution.

Herein, we created defects on NH2-MIL-125 to form more nodes of grafted metals, and synthesized a series of hybrid materials (Cu/d-NH2-MIL-125 and CuNPs/d-NH2-MIL-125 with 1,2, and 4 wt % of Cu nanoparticles) that were used as photocatalysts of the hydrogen evolution reaction and dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinoline. At the optimal relative amount of Cu, namely 2 wt %, the hydrogen evolution reaction and dehydrogenation of tetrahydroisoquinoline showed rates of 1326.55 μmol g-1 h-1 and 427.15 μmol g-1 h-1, respectively. This new photocatalyst could effectively improve the e-/h+ separation efficiency, enriching the investigation of MOFs in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The influence of calcium on copper corrosion and its by-product release in drinking water.

Copper is a high-quality material commonly used in drinking water supply pipes. Calcium is a prevalent cation found in drinking water. However, the effects of calcium on copper corrosion and its by-product release remain unclear. This study discusses the influences of Ca2+ on copper corrosion and its by-product release in drinking water under different conditions of Cl-, SO42-, and Cl-/SO42-, using electrochemical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The results indicate that Ca2+ slows down the corrosion reaction of copper to some extent in comparison with Cl-, and the Ecorr shifts positively by 0.022 V, while Icorr decreases by 0.235 μA cm-2. However, the by-product release rate increases by 0.5 μg cm-2. The addition of Ca2+ causes the anodic process to become the controlling factor for corrosion, with an increase in resistance observed in both the inner and outer layers of the corrosion product film through SEM analysis. The corrosion product film becomes denser due to the reaction between Ca2+ and Cl-, forming a product that inhibits the entry of Cl- into the passive film on the copper surface. Adding Ca2+ promotes copper corrosion with the help of SO42- and the release of corrosion by-products. The anodic reaction resistance decreases while the cathodic reaction resistance increases, resulting in a small potential difference of only 10 mV between the anode and cathode. The resistance of the inner layer film decreases, while that of the outer layer film increases. SEM analysis shows that the surface becomes rougher with the addition of Ca2+, and 1-4 mm granular corrosion products are formed. This is due to the fact that Cu4(OH)6SO4 has low solubility and forms a relatively dense passive film that inhibits the corrosion reaction. The added Ca2+ also reacts with SO42- to form CaSO4, which reduces the amount of Cu4(OH)6SO4 generated at the interface, thus damaging the integrity of the passive film. Adding Ca2+ promotes the corrosion of copper by Cl- and SO42- and enhances the release of corrosion by-products, with the highest corrosion rate observed under the Cl-/SO42-/Ca2+ conditions. The resistance of the inner layer membrane decreases, while the mass transfer resistance of the outer layer membrane increases. Under the Cl-/SO42- conditions, the SEM surface of the Cu2O particles is uniform in size, arranged in an orderly and compact manner. After adding Ca2+, the size of the particles becomes uneven, and the surface becomes rough and uneven. This is because Ca2+ firstly combines with SO42-, thus promoting corrosion. And then the remaining Ca2+ combines with Cl-, which inhibits corrosion. Despite the amount of remaining Ca2+ being small, it still promotes corrosion. The amount of released corrosion by-products is mainly controlled by the redeposition reaction that occurs in the outer layer membrane, determining the amount of Cu2O to which the copper ions are converted. The increase in resistance of the outer layer membrane means that the charge transfer resistance of the redeposition reaction increases, and the reaction rate slows down. Consequently, the amount of Cu(ii) converted to Cu2O decreases, leading to an increase in Cu(ii) in the solution. Therefore, adding Ca2+ in all three conditions results in an increase in the release of corrosion by-products.

Bioaccumulation Behaviors of Copper Phthalocyanine Nano-pigments in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) has the largest application market of blue nano-pigments (NPs), which can release from relative products to aquatic environment during daily use. However, bioaccumulation of CuPc NPs in high trophic-level aquatic organisms is unclear. Therefore, bioaccumulation behaviors of CuPc in zebrafish as model aquatic organism were investigated. In this work, CuPc NPs were irregular in shape with an average size of 76.8 nm, whose crystal phase was a common beta phase according to the XRD spectrum. After 10 d of exposure to CuPc NPs, the weight of zebrafish at both low and high concentrations showed no obvious difference with con-trol, indicating little influence of CuPc on the survival of zebrafish. It was noted that amounts of Cu accumulated in the liver (982.84 ng/g) and skin (609.08 ng/g), and a small accumulation of Cu was observed in the gut, heart, and gill. CuPc NPs could not lead to Cu accumulation in the brain and muscle. This work helps to better understand the bioaccumulation behaviors and potential risks of CuPc NPs.

Structural diagrams and thermodynamics relating to temperature and compositions of Ag561−nCun (n = 0-561) nanoalloys during cooling from atomic simulations

The packing changes of Ag_561-nCu_n (n = 0-561) nanoparticles during cooling were studied by molecular dynamics simulations at atomic scale. Structural diagrams as well as packing images presented liquid, disordered, and some ordered patterns. Pair distribution functions were used to characterize some typical structures. Potential energy and shape factors identified the transition’s temperature regime and the effect of cooling on the shape’s changes of the alloyed particles. The simulation results show composition effect on the transition temperatures and complex structural patterns. For these Cu-Ag nanoalloys, which contain small amount of Cu or Ag atoms, they show alternating FCC and icosahedral packing patterns at low temperatures, and core-shell configurations prefer to occur in the Cu-rich particles, where the Cu occupy the interior of the particles. Compositions and degree of orderliness in packing contribute to the entropy of the alloyed nanoparticles.

Evaluation of micronutrient status of unburnt and burnt coffee plantation in Ibadan

The micronutrient status of the soils and leaf of unburnt and burnt plots of coffee plantation to study the soil-plant micronutrient content relationship in the coffee plantation soil for proper management towards optimum production of the crop was investigated at Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from the burnt and unburnt plots in the coffee plantation at 3 depth of 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm were bulked into composite samples. Leaf samples of burnt and unburnt plots were collected at the same plantation soil pit for both locations.The soil samples were analyzed for the micronutrients manganese(Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and in addition pH and organic carbon, while the leaves were analyzed for only the micronutrient contents. Results obtained from the unburnt and burnt plots indicated that the organic carbon content of the soil was low and the soil is deficient in Cu and Zn but very in Mn and Fe content. The micronutrient content of the leaves was deficient in Mn, Cu, and Zn but high in Fe. This probably resulted in nutrient imbalance in the soils and the deficiency of the nutrients in the crops. Soil and leaf micronutrient concentration were found insufficient for coffee plantation in the study area. The plantations therefore require application of organic manures and micronutrient fertilizers to rectify the inadequate soil organic matter and to supply sufficient amount of Cu and Zn in the soils, to obtain quality berry yield at optimum level from the plantation.

A sensitive detection approach for Cu(II) ions in water samples using a solid-state chemical sensor

ABSTRACT We describe the creation of a solid-state optical sensor that is quick to respond, sensitive, and reliable for detecting and determining Cu(II) ions in both natural and wastewater sources. The solid-state template was prepared with mesoporous silica nanospheres of capacious porosity, high surface area, and uniform surface morphology. N,N’-bis(3-carboxysalcylidene)-4-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine (CSCPD), a chromoionophoric probe with exclusive ion-selectivity and sensitivity for Cu(II), is created for use in naked-eye colorimetric detection. The mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) template displayed several diffusible sites for the uniform anchoring of the CSCPD probe molecules, which serve as a colorimetric ion sensor for the naked eye. The surface profile and structure of the MSNs and the CSCPD sensor materials are studied using BET/BJH, XPS, FESEM, p-XRD, and HR-TEM analysis. With various concentrations of Cu(II), the CSCPD probe-anchored MSNs material reciprocates a vivid visual colour shift from an initial pale yellow colour to green with a reaction period of around one minute. In addition, the MSNs are simply covered with probe molecules as part of the sensor production process. The certified limits of detection for Cu(II) ions for the proposed CSCPD sensor is 1.57 ppb (2.48 × 10−8 M). The suggested CSCPD sensor is dual-functional in that it may be used as a concentrator to recover ultra-trace quantities of Cu(II) ions as well as an effective ion-sensing device.

In vitro and in vivo copper-treated Myrtus communis L.: terpene profiles and evidence for potential cultivation on metal-contaminated soils.

The intensive application of agro-chemicals, and in particular of copper (Cu)-based compounds, causes increasing pollution of agricultural land, with serious risks for human health. Aromatic plants used for purposes other than food, can be considered for the exploitation and/or remediation of metal-polluted substrates, since contamination of the essential oils by these metals was not significant. Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub whose essential oil has many commercial applications. In this work, the effect of an excess of Cu in respect to control conditions was assessed on M. communis growth and foliar terpene composition. Metal accumulation in roots and shoots was also evaluated for the possible use of this species in phytoremediation. The amount of Cu applied in our experiments minimally affected the terpene profiles of in vitro grown plants, whereas no variations were detected in in vivo plants. The presence of the metal in the soil did not significantly impair plant growth, thus allowing its cultivation on polluted substrates. On the other hand, the amount of Cu in the plant was not enough to result in a significant reduction of Cu levels in the soil. Therefore, myrtle plants proved to be good candidates for the re-vegetation of Cu-contaminated lands.

Aminobenzopyranoxanthene based salicylhydrazone probe for colorimetric detection of Cu2+

A new colorimetric probe aminobenzopyranoxanthene salicylhydrazone (ABPX-Sal) has been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldehyde with aminobenzopyranoxanthene hydrazide (ABPX-hy). Owing to its spirohydrazone structure, this probe showed a significant absorption enhancement at 419 ​nm in the presence of Cu2+, and the color changed from colorless to yellow. There was a good linear relationship between the absorption intensity of ABPX-Sal and the amount of Cu2+ (R2= ​0.9928), and the detection limit was calculated to be 0.912 ​μM. The binding mode between ABPX-Sal and Cu2+ was 1:2, which was proved by ESI-MS. The sensing mechanism was revealed to be a spiro-ring enacted coordination process by DFT calculation. The desired level of selectivity, sensitivity (within 30 ​s), and reusability made this probe very practical in acidic samples.

Development and Testing of Ni-Cu Bimetallic Catalysts for Effective Syngas Production via Low-Temperature Methane Steam Reforming

In the present work, novel bi-metallic catalysts for syngas production at low temperature steam reforming are developed, characterised and tested. Steam methane reforming by using bi-metallic Ni-Cu catalysts found to balance the product of CO to CO2 ratios, while affected the water gas shift reaction by increasing the hydrogen selectivity up to 600°C. The addition of different amounts of Cu (3, 5, 7, 10 wt%) to the Ni catalyst for methane steam reforming showed different reactivity trends. One of the major outcomes of this work is the maximum load capacity of Cu (5wt.%Cu) to maintain the reactivity. For comparison purposes, mono-metallic catalysts of Cu and Ni were developed and tested along with the bi-metallic ones. The activity of the reaction decreased by doping more than 5wt.%Cu which affected the amount of hydrogen produced. This is related to the possible limited number of available sites required for hydrogen adsorption to maintain the reaction of methane steam reforming. Another important outcome of this work is the bi-metallic Ni-Cu catalysts did not decrease the amount of carbon formation.

Insight into copper-cerium catalysts with different Cu valence states for CO-SCR and in-situ DRIFTS study on reaction mechanism

Copper-cerium catalysts have received extensive attention for their excellent catalytic performance in the field of NO reduction with CO. In this work, Cu+-Ce and Cu2+-Ce systems were designed to examine the catalytic potential of Cu+ and Cu2+. A series of catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, HRTEM, EDS, H2-TPR, Raman, XPS and in-situ DRIFTS in different NO + CO atmospheres. Cu+-Ce catalyst possesses a large amount of Cu+ that can promote the synergy between Cu+ and Ce4+ and adsorb CO to form Cu+-CO species consuming more active oxygen, thus generating more oxygen vacancies than Cu2+-Ce, which improve the catalytic performance of Cu+-Ce catalyst at low temperatures. In different NO + CO atmospheres, Cu+-Ce catalyst always maintains better catalytic performance to make an excellent universal applicability. In-situ DRIFTS in different NO + CO atmospheres provided evidence to confirm that oxygen vacancy is indeed active site for decomposing NO. And it also demonstrated that the CuCe/CuCe-S (Cu2+-Ce system) and CuCe/Ce-S (Cu+-Ce system) catalysts are dominated by L-H mechanism with different CO adsorption behavior at low temperatures.

Glycerol electrooxidation on carbon-supported Pt-CuO and PtCu-CuO catalysts

Herein, Pt and Pt0.85Cu0.15 nanoparticles were deposited over hybrid CuO/C supports (1.5, 3 and 5 wt.% on carbon) by a pulsed microwave-assisted reduction method and the as-prepared materials were evaluated as electrocatalysts toward the electrooxidation of glycerol in alkaline medium. The structural and morphological analysis showed that the platinum particles decrease from 4.2 nm to around 3.0 nm in size when the CuO crystallites are present on the surface of the carbonaceous material. The electrochemical experiments indicated that the nanoparticles deposited over the hybrid support present significantly improved electrocatalytic properties compared to Pt/C. Among them, Pt0.85Cu0.15CuO(3)/C catalyst exhibited the best performance for the GOR, delivering a mass activity of around 270 mA mgPt−1 at a fixed potential of 0.7 V, which is 5.4 times higher than that of Pt/C (∼50 mA mgPt−1). The results showed that the addition of very small amounts of copper oxide on the surface of the carbonaceous support and the addition of a small amount of Cu to Pt boost the activity of the active sites via the bifunctional mechanism, geometric strain and ligand effects.