Copper Oxide Research Articles

Development of silver-doped copper oxide and chitosan nanocomposites for enhanced antimicrobial activities.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant and pressing public health concern, posing serious challenges to effectively preventing and treating persistent diseases. Despite various efforts made in recent years to address this problem, the global trends of AMR continue to escalate without any indication of decline. As AMR is well-known for antibiotics, developing new materials such as metal containing compounds with different mechanisms of action is crucial to effectively address this challenge. Copper, silver, and chitosan in various forms have demonstrated significant biological activities and hold promise for applications in medicine and biotechnology. Exploring the biological properties of these nanoparticles is essential for innovative therapeutic approaches in treating bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, and other diseases. To this end, the present study aimed to synthesize silver@copper oxide (Ag@CuO) nanoparticles and its chitosan nanocomposite (Chi-Ag@CuO) to investigate their antimicrobial efficacy. Various established spectroscopic and microscopic methods were employed for characterization purposes, encompassing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Subsequently, the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was assessed through MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration), and well-disk diffusion assays against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans. The size of the CuO-NPs, Ag@CuO, and Chi-Ag@CuO NPs was found to be 70-120 nm with a spherical shape and an almost uniform distribution. The nanocomposites were found to possess a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 250 μg/mL. Moreover, these nanocomposites generated varying clear inhibition zones, with diameters ranging from a minimum of 9±0.5 mm to a maximum of 25±0.5 mm. Consequently, it is evident that the amalgamation of copper-silver-chitosan nanoparticles has exhibited noteworthy antimicrobial properties in the controlled laboratory environment, surpassing the performance of other types of nanoparticles.

Copper recovery by solvent extraction for nanoparticle synthesis from waste motherboards.

Printed circuit boards, which make up part of waste from electrical and electronic equipment, contain elements that can be economically reused, such as copper, silver, gold, and nickel, as well as metals that are harmful to the environment and health, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Thus, through recycling this scrap, materials that would otherwise be discarded can be reinserted as secondary raw materials to produce new consumer goods through urban mining. In this context, the synthesis of nanoparticles shows promise as it allows the reinsertion of these materials in the manufacture of new products. Therefore, this study used obsolete computer motherboards as a secondary material to obtain copper to produce nanoparticles of this metal. From a solution based on the leach liquor of this scrap, a purification route using solvent extraction was defined and applied to the real leach liquor. Applying the hydroxyoxime extractant at a dilution of 20% (v/v) in kerosene, A/O of 1/1, 298K, and 0.25h of contact during extraction, and stripping in H2SO4 (2M), 298K, 0.25h, W/O ratio of 3/1, and two theoretical countercurrent stages, a solution containing more than 95% of the copper in the leach liquor could be obtained with less than 1% of contaminants. From this purified liquor, nanoparticles containing copper and metallic copper oxides and hydroxides were produced, with an average size of 84nm, at pH 11, 3h of hot stirring, volume of 0.015 L of ascorbic acid (0.50M) and 0.015 L of precursor solution (0.03M Cu), and temperature (343K).

Persulphate assisted photoelectrochemical degradation of organic pollutants in water on a silver nanoparticle modified Cu2O photoanode

This work presents the photoelectrochemical production of sulphate radicals using fluorine-doped tine oxide – silver nanoparticles – copper(I) oxide (FTO-AgNPs-Cu2O) photoanode in the presence of peroxydisulphate salt for the enhanced degradation of selected organic pollutants in water. Firstly, Cu2O was prepared via a facile and template-free one-pot method, then AgNPs were photo-reduced on the surface of the Cu2O, and the resultant product was immobilised on an FTO conductive substrate to form FTO-AgNPs-Cu2O photoanode. When the electrode was applied for the abatement of tetracycline in the presence of 3 mM peroxydisulphate salt and 1.5 V external potential, the degree of tetracycline degradation and mineralisation after 90 min was 82 % and 78 % respectively. Furthermore, the same system was able to achieve degradation of 81 % sulfamethoxazole degradation within 90 min and 100 % orange II dye degradation within 30 min. The photoanode was efficient in the treatment of real wastewater containing tetracycline. Scavenger studies reveal that holes, hydroxyl, and sulphate radicals significantly participated in the degradation process. The electrode is stable and therefore applicable for the abatement of other organic pollutants in a persulphate-assisted photoelectrochemical degradation system.

Enhanced inactivation of Escherichia coli through hydrogen peroxide decomposition assisted by nanoscale cupric oxide-decorated activated carbon

In this study, nanoscale cupric oxide-decorated activated carbon (nCuO@AC) was synthesized by impregnation-calcination and employed to assist the decomposition of H2O2 for effective sterilization with Escherichia coli as target bacteria. Characteristic technologies demonstrated that copper oxide particles of 50–100 nm were uniformly distributed on AC surface. Owing to electron transfer from hydroxyl and aldehyde to CuO on AC, surface-bonded Cu(II) was partially reduced to Cu(I) in the nCuO matrix. The resultant Cu(I) expedited the decomposition of H2O2 and converted it into ·OH radicals which were identified by quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance test. Due to oxidation attack of generated ·OH, the nCuO@AC-H2O2 system achieved a much higher inactivation rate of 6.0 log within 30 min as compared to those of 2.1 and 1.3 log in the nCuO@AC and nCuO-H2O2 systems. It also exhibited excellent pH adaptability and high inactivation efficiency under neutral conditions. After four cycles, the nCuO@AC-H2O2 system could still inactivate 5.5 log bacteria, indicating excellent stability and reusability of nCuO@AC. Spent nCuO@AC could be regenerated by eluting surficial copper oxides with hydrochloric acid, and re-coating nCuO particles through impregnation-calcination with a regeneration rate of 96.6%. Our results demonstrated that nCuO@AC was an efficient and prospective catalyst to assist the decomposition of H2O2 for effective inactivation of bacteria in water.

Mechanically stable and highly permeable porous alumina foam with immobilized copper hexacyanoferrate (Cu-HCF@AF) for the removal of radioactive cesium (137Cs) from seawater

Copper hexacyanoferrate (Cu-HCF) is a highly effective adsorbent known for its selective and efficient removal of 137Cs+ ions from seawater. To advance its practical application for seawater remediation, it is essential to granulate Cu-HCF. However, the use of polymer binders presents significant stability challenges in seawater because of their propensity to swell under high osmotic pressure and tendency to decompose when exposed to the radioactivity of 137Cs. This study explores a highly durable and efficient form of Cu-HCF immobilized on alumina foam (Cu-HCF@AF) for the remediation of seawater contaminated with 137Cs+. The Cu-HCF@AF was prepared by first coating copper(II) oxide (CuO) onto alumina foam (AF), then converting it to Cu-HCF through a 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3BTC)-catalyzed reaction with K3Fe(CN)6 solution. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that spherical CuO particles formed on the AF surface and that 100 nm cubic Cu-HCF crystals developed on these spheres. The synthesis conditions for the Cu-HCF@AF, including the pore size of the AF, the Cu precursor concentration, the number of precursor coatings, and the Cu/reactant ratio, were systematically optimized to achieve optimal Cs+ adsorption performance. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the amount of Cu-HCF immobilized on the AF was 3.24 % of the total sample mass. The maximum Cs+ adsorption capacity was determined to be 30.36 mg/g, and the Langmuir isotherm model was found to well fit the adsorption data, suggesting a homogeneous Cs+ adsorption process. The Cu-HCF@AF exhibited outstanding adsorption performance, exceeding 35 mg/g, at pH levels from 7 to 12, making it suitable for use not only in seawater but also in highly alkaline waste streams. In seawater, monovalent ions such as Na+ and K+, which have an ionic radius similar to that of hydrated Cs+, interfered more significantly with Cs+ adsorption compared with divalent ions such as Mg2+ and Ca2+. Finally, we demonstrated the removal of radioactive 137Cs+ in actual seawater, confirming the feasibility of using Cu-HCF@AF in practical applications.

Biogenic synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Clausena anisata leaf and Euphorbia abyssinica bark extracts and its comparative study of antibacterial activities

Green synthesis of metallic oxide nanoparticles has been used and preferred over physical and chemical methods of synthesis since it is a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method. This study aims to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles that were successfully synthesized using Clausena anisata leaf and Euphorbia abyssinica bark by using copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) as a precursor. The copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using 2.5 mL of Clausena anisata leaf and the same amount of Euphorbia abyssinica bark extracts in 10 mL of a 15 mM CuSO4·5H2O solution using the green method. The synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles have been characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of copper oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by the UV–visible absorption spectrum in an intense surface plasmon resonance between 330 and 370 nm, which revealed the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra indicated the crystalline nature of CuO NPs. The average crystalline size of CuO NPs synthesized from Clausena anisata and Euphorbia abyssinica is 47.15 and 19.34 nm, respectively. The FT-IR results showed the existence of bioactive functional groups required for the reduction of copper ions, whereas the results of SEM confirm the green synthesized CuO NPs are spherical in shape. For antibacterial activity studies, the agar disk diffusion method was used. Anti-bacterial activities were studied against three different bacteria: Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae) using CuO NPs (100–12.5 mg/mL). Ciprofloxacin and dimethyl sulphoxide, were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Ciprofloxacin (60 µg/mL) inhibited Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterobacter cloacae with inhibition zones of 18, 20, and 25 mm, respectively. The CuO NPs synthesized from Euphorbia abyssinica bark showed higher anti-bacterial activity. Euphorbia abyssinica bark-mediated CuO NPs exhibited inhibition zones of 7, 11, and 13 mm against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Conversely, Clausena anisata leaf-mediated CuO NPs demonstrated inhibition zones of 8, 14, and 15 mm against the same microorganisms.

Green synthesis and characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles

Green synthesis and characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles

Study of The Optical Properties of Copper Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Chemical Spray Pyrolysis Technique

Study of The Optical Properties of Copper Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Chemical Spray Pyrolysis Technique

Copper oxide nanosheets as an effective nanozyme with haloperoxidase-like activity for the colorimetric detection of H2O2 and glucose

Copper oxide nanosheets (CuO NSs) have been successfully obtained by exploiting an effective one-step approach of sugar-blowing method followed by calcination. The nanosheets were characterized by several techniques like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Impressively, CuO NSs display haloperoxidase (HPO) like catalytic activity which catalyses the oxidation of chloride ions by H2O2 giving rise to reactive chlorine species (RCS). A sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor was then demonstrated via the oxidation of chromogenic substrate 3,3′,5,5′- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by the novel nanoenzyme CuO NSs through the generation of RCS for H2O2 and glucose detection with limit of detection of 109 nM and 21 nM in the linear ranges of 4.6 µM to 769 µM and 0.22 µM to 19.57 µM respectively. Additionally, the methodology is validated for the analysis of glucose in real samples.

Plasma in liquids induced modification of Cu surfaces

Copper oxide surfaces are commonly used as the catalyst for the CO2 reduction reaction towards hydrocarbons. However, the lifetime of these catalyst surfaces is limited. In this paper, a method of production of copper oxides through in-liquid plasma is explored, which may be a suitable reactivation method in such applications. The influence of the plasma, ignited in distilled water, with copper and its oxides is monitored in − situ using infrared spectroscopy and ex-situ using scanning electron spectroscop and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the samples. It is shown that the interaction of the plasma with the samples causes a reduction of the copper oxide on a fast time scale and an oxidation on a longer time scale. The formation of preferentially oriented copper nanocubes is observed.

Experimental investigation on the effect of nano-enhanced phase change materials on the thermal performance of single slope solar still

Solar desalination is employed to create drinkable water from salt water. Using solar energy saves money and supplies clean, renewable fresh water. Nano-enhanced Phase change materials (NEPCM) and nano-enhanced absorption were utilized in this analysis to increase the capacity of solar desalination. Increased solar energy absorption makes anthracite content in saline water. CuO and AlN nanoparticles at 0.2 wt% and 0.4 wt% were combined in paraffin wax and injected into 12 copper pipes on the anthracite to boost the thermal characteristics of PCM. Copper pipes coated with dark paint containing scattered CuO nanoparticles to improve thermal conductivity. According to the findings, solar still production amplifies by 55.8 % and 49.5 %, respectively. Copper Oxide and Aluminium Nitride nanoparticles, each containing 0.2 wt%, lowered the melting temperature to 2.2ºCand 1.9ºC, respectively. It found that the CPL values of the Single slope solar still were 0.2₹/L and 8.26₹/L with the nano-enhanced PCM at 0.4 wt% CuO and AlN. The nano-coating also achieved a 5.7 % rise in the water production rate of the solar still.

Investigation of synergistic effects of cobalt doping on physical and dielectric properties of copper oxide nanoparticles

Cobalt-doped copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using the composite hydroxide-mediated (CHM) method, and their structural, compositional, dielectric, and impedance properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a monoclinic crystal structure for all prepared samples with increasing cobalt concentrations leading to a decrease in crystallite size from 44.34 nm to 33.80 nm. The vibrational bands of the different atoms present in these nanoparticles were estimated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a predominantly spherical morphology with decreasing particle size upon cobalt doping. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy verified the elemental composition of the nanoparticles. The dielectric analysis revealed increasing trend in the values of capacitance from 2.19 × 10−12 F to 1.16 × 10−10 F, real part from 3.74 to 1.99 × 102, imaginary part from 5.16 to 6.20 × 103, and tangent loss from 1.37 to 5.60. These parameters got maximum values in low frequency regime as the cobalt replaced copper oxide nanoparticles while these parameters decreased with increasing frequency due to interfacial polarization. Moreover, ac-conductivity revealed increasing values from 2.87 × 10−7 to 3.45 × 10−4 (Ωm)−1 as the cobalt replaced copper oxide nanoparticles in high frequency regime. Both the real and imaginary parts of impedance revealed trends from 3.60 × 107 Ω to 4.59 × 104 Ω and −2.51 × 107 Ω to −1.44 × 103 Ω, respectively, when the cobalt replaced copper oxide nanoparticles. These results revealed that the doping of Co altered the structural and dielectric properties of CuO nanoparticles to making them functional for storage devices.

In situ XRD and operando XRD-XANES study of the regeneration of LaCo0.8Cu0.2O3 perovskite for preferential oxidation of CO

Combinations of perovskite-type oxides with transition and precious metals exhibit remarkable regenerating properties that can be exploited for catalytic applications. The objective of the present work was to study the structural changes experienced by LaCo0.8Cu0.2O3 under reducing/oxidizing atmosphere (redox) and Preferential Oxidation of CO (PrOx, with high H2 concentration) conditions and their reversibility. LaCo0.8Cu0.2O3 was prepared by ultrasonic spray combustion and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Structural changes were followed by operando XRD and XAS. Metallic Co and Cu were segregated under both sets of reducing conditions and re-dissolved into the perovskite upon oxidation at 500 °C. Simultaneously, the perovskite-type oxide disappeared under reducing conditions and formed again upon high-temperature oxidation. The effects of this reversible reduction/dissolution of B-site metals on catalyst structure and activity were studied concerning the catalytic process of PrOx. The active phases of cobalt and copper oxides suffer a reduction during the PrOx reaction due to the high H2 concentration; thus, the application of an intermediate oxidation treatment can regenerate the catalytic system and the perovskite can be used for several cycles of reaction and regeneration. In contrast, when this intermediate oxidation treatment is not applied, the catalytic performance decreases in successive activity cycles.

CuO Nanozymes Catalyze Cysteine and Glutathione Depletion Induced Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis for Synergistic Tumor Therapy.

The latest research identifies that cysteine (Cys) is one of the key factors in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence. The direct depletion of intracellular Cys shows a profound antitumor effect. However, using nanozymes to efficiently deplete Cys for tumor therapy has not yet attracted widespread attention. Here, a (3-carboxypropyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide-derived hyaluronic acid-modified copper oxide nanorods (denoted as MitCuOHA) are designed with cysteine oxidase-like, glutathione oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities to realize Cys depletion and further induce cellular ferroptosis and cuproptosis for synergistic tumor therapy. MitCuOHA nanozymes can efficiently catalyze the depletion of Cys and glutathione (GSH), accompanied by the generation of H2O2 and the subsequent conversion into highly active hydroxyl radicals, thereby successfully inducing ferroptosis in cancer cells. Meanwhile, copper ions released by MitCuOHA under tumor microenvironment stimulation directly bind to lipoylated proteins of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, leading to the abnormal aggregation of lipoylated proteins and subsequent loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins, which ultimately triggers proteotoxic stress and cell cuproptosis. Both in vitro and in vivo results show the drastically enhanced anticancer efficacy of Cys oxidation catalyzed by the MitCuOHA nanozymes, demonstrating the high feasibility of such catalytic Cys depletion-induced synergistic ferroptosis and cuproptosis therapeutic concept.

Effect of sandblasting and acid surface pretreatment on the specific capacitance of CuO nanostructures grown by hot water treatment for supercapacitor electrode applications

Crystalline copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures with micro, nano, and micro-nano surface roughness were grown on Cu sheet substrates by a facile, scalable, low-cost, and low-temperature hot water treatment (HWT) method that simply involved immersing Cu sheet in DI water at 75 °C for 24 h without any chemical additives. Various morphological features and sizes of CuO nanostructures were tuned by using different surface pretreatment techniques including acid treatment, sandblasting, or a combination of those two. The surface morphology of the prepared samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structure of the CuO nanostructures was investigated by x-ray diffraction XRD and Raman spectroscopy. To study the pseudocapacitive behavior, their potential supercapacitor performance, and equivalent series resistance, electrochemical analysis was done by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for all the CuO/Cu samples in 1 M of Na2SO4 electrolyte. Among all, the best supercapacitive performance was achieved for CuO/Cu samples pretreated with Sandblasting followed by Acid treatment resulting in a specific capacitance of about 104 F g−1. The electrode with the sandblasted + acid pretreated sample showed a maximum of ∼69% capacitive retention after 2000 consecutive cycles. Our results indicate that CuO nanostructures on Cu substrates prepared with different surface pretreatment conditions and grown by HWT can be promising electrodes for supercapacitor device applications.

Synthesis, characterization and analytical prospects of cellulose-derived nanoparticles of Ferric-oxide (Fe2O3/cellulose) and Copper-oxide (CuOx)

Our environment has been significantly impacted by man-made pollutants, primarily due to industries make substantial use of synthetic chemicals, resulting in significant environmental consequences. In this research investigation, the co-precipitation approach was employed for the synthesis of cellulose-based ferric oxide (Fe2O3/cellulose) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuOx-NPs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were conducted to determine the properties of the newly synthesised nanoparticles. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles were employed for eliminating chromium from aqueous media under various conditions, including temperature, contact time, adsorbent concentration, adsorbate concentration, and pH. Additionally, the synthesised materials were used to recover Cr(VI) ions from real samples, including tap water, seawater, and industrial water, and the adsorptive capacity of both materials evaluated under optimal conditions. The synthesis of Fe2O3/cellulose and CuOx-NPs proved to be effective, as indicated by the outcomes of the study.

Enhancement of synergistic effects of Cu2O@MnO2@NiO Using Sarcophrynium Brachystachys leaf extract for supercapacitor electrode application

In recent times, the global population explosion and growing depletion of fossil fuels have compelled academics and scientists to do extensive research on alternate energy sources and energy storage techniques. A hydrothermal approach was used to create Copper (II) oxide (Cu2O), Manganese oxide (MnO2), Nickel oxide (NiO), and Copper@Manganese@Nickel (Cu2O@MnO2@NiO) oxide composite electrodes. Sarcophrynium Brachystachys leaves extract was used equally as a bolstering mediator. According to the Debye-Scherer equation, the crystallites size of different nanoparticles (NPs) were established to be 29.45, 24.22, 26.33 and 20.24 nm for Cu2O, MnO2, NiO, and Cu2O@MnO2@NiO, respectively, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments. According to electrochemical examinations, assessed specific capacitances for Cu2O, MnO2, NiO, and Cu2O@MnO2@NiO obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using 1.00 mV/s scan rates are 785, 955, 825 and 1092 F/g, respectively. The obtained results clearly showed that separate metallic oxides specific capacitances compared with composites specific capacitance using Sarcophrynium Brachystachys leaves extract, a biological and natural constituent stands superior. Sarcophrynium Brachystachys leaves extract enhanced the synergistic impact between constituents’ ions via lowering electrode resistances, raising electrode conductivity and improving electrode characteristics.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of CuO@ZnO Nanocomposites Using Artemisia vulgaris Leaf Extract and Study of Its Photocatalytic Activity for Methylene Blue

In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and copper oxide/zinc oxide nanocomposites (CuO@ZnO NPs) were synthesized by green synthetic route where bioactive compounds inherently present in the leaf extract of Artemisia vulgaris act as stabilizing and reducing agents. Phytochemicals present in leaf extract were assessed by qualitative chemical tests and spectroscopic measurements. UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) were used to characterize the as-synthesized nanomaterials, i.e., CuO, ZnO, and CuO@ZnO NPs. XRD pattern revealed the crystalline nature of nanoparticles. Based on the Debye–Scherrer formula, the sizes of CuO NPs, ZnO NPs, and CuO@ZnO NCs were found to be 17.24, 20.74, and 22.50 nm, respectively. The band gap of the as-prepared nanomaterials was measured using the Tauc plot. Using the nanomaterials, MB degradation was studied at room temperature under exposure to UV light. The degradation efficiency of CuO, ZnO, and 2% CuO@ZnO was found to be 52%, 68%, and 98%, respectively. Kinetic degradation process reveals that the CuO@ZnO NCs showed a better photocatalytic activity on MB dye with the degradation constant of 0.04124 min−1 compared to those of either constituent. Based on the findings, it was found that CuO@ZnO nanocomposites have the potential to degrade MB as an organic dye and can be used for wastewater treatment.

In-situ non destructive investigation of contemporary outdoor bronze sculptures

Indoor investigations are commonly used to assess the causes and extent of damage to bronze artwork and cultural heritage items; however, these methods typically involve destructive sampling and outdoor bronze sculptures are typically heavy and large, hindering their transport. In this study, 16 contemporary bronze sculptures exposed to outdoor environments for a period exceeding 20 years were evaluated in-situ to develop a non-destructive prediction model that can identify types of corrosion and quantify the amount of corrosion on bronze sculptures that cannot be easily transported. The sculptures were classified into three groups according to their patina chromaticity, reflectivity, and chemical composition. The corrosion characteristics were found to be copper oxide and sulfide patinas. Chromaticity and reflectivity investigations revealed that the chemical composition changes of the patinas corresponded to the formation of corrosion products, thus showing a high potential for the identification of the type of corrosion. Portable XRF spectroscopy showed that the low error rate of Cu make its compositional behavior a good indicator in identifying the type of corrosion of sulfide and chloride patinas. Portable Raman spectroscopy was able to detect basic sulfides such as brochantite, antlerite, and cuprite. The corrosion types and corrosion products on the bronze sculptures could be identified using chromaticity and reflectivity, portable X-ray fluorescence, and portable Raman spectroscopy. The rapid insitu diagnosis of these corrosion attributes is expected to contribute to establishing conservation treatment plans in the future.

Fabrication of porous copper oxide nanostructure on nickel foam electrode by a co-precipitation method for non-enzymatic glucose detection

A novel porous copper oxide nanostructure on nickel foam (CuO/NF) electrode has been successfully prepared through a co-precipitation way. The porous CuO structure and nickel foam can be integrated into a three-dimensional ordered and hierarchal CuO electrode sensor. The porous CuO structure contains many loosely packed nanoparticles and the nanochannels, which are beneficial for providing more active sites for electrocatalytic oxidation–reduction reactions. The Cu(III)/Cu(II) pair plays an essential role, which completes the charge transfer during the electrochemically catalyzed reaction. Two Cu(III) ions obtain two electrons from one molecule of glucose, which completes two electron transfers to produce one molecule of gluconic acid lactone. The results of the actual detection of Fetal Bovine Serum indicate that the CuO/NF electrode produced could be utilized for the determination of actual samples.