Green synthesis of Copper Oxide/Carbon nanocomposites using the leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica Nees, their characterization and antimicrobial activity

Copper Oxide/Carbon (CuO/C) nanocomposites were developed through the green method using the leaf extract of Adhatoda vasica at room temperature. Here, the leaf extract serves as a capping agent, reducing agent and a source of carbon for the formation of nanocomposites. As we know, this is the first article on the synthesis of CuO/C nanocomposites using this leaf extract. The nanocomposites were prepared by mixing the copper sulphate pentahydrate solution with the plant extract under certain conditions. The synthesized material was characterized by XRD, UV-Visible, FTIR, FE SEM, EDS, XPS and TGA. The results revealed that the synthesized material is a composite of copper oxide and functionalized graphene-like carbon. The SEM images indicated that the CuO/C nanoflakes had an average thickness of 7–11nm. Further, the composites were examined for antifungal activity and antibacterial activity. The nanocomposites showed significant antibacterial activity against the pathogenic bacterial strains Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against the fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Also, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal/Bactericidal Concentration (MFC/MBC) of the nanocomposites were determined against the fungus C. albicans and the bacteria K. pneumonia.