Synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles via Electro-explosion of wire method: investigation of the effect of applied electrical energy, surfactant and antibacterial properties

In the present study, Copper Oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized via Electro-explosion of Wire (EEW) method and studied via XRD, SEM, FT-IR and UV-Vis Spectroscopy techniques. The EEW method provides a feasible way through which the oxide and metallic nanoparticles are produced with an increased productivity and a high surface chemical activity. The effect of the applied electric current and the use of surfactant on the size, chemical composition and oxide and metallic oxide ratio of the particles were investigated. The results showed that, in different situations, spherical and semi spherical nanoparticles with an average particle size of 24.5 to 60.3 nm were formed by electrical explosion of the wire. By increasing the intensity of the flow and the amount of surfactant, the size of the nanoparticles decreased. Besides, following a rise in the amount of surfactant, the oxide phase ratio increased; probably due to a reaction between the Oxygen atoms, derived from the evaporation and decomposition of the surfactant molecules, and the Copper atoms. . In order to evaluate the antibacterial effect of nanoparticles, samples containing different nanoparticles were added to the culture medium of Escherichia coli and the number of live bacteria was compared to a control sample without bacteria. The results show that, the antibacterial effect of the particles increases by decreasing the particle size, increasing the contact surface of nanoparticles-bacteria and increasing the concentration of nanoparticles.