Simple synthesis of Cu2O/GQDs nanocomposite with different morphologies fabricated by tuning the synthesis parameters as novel antibacterial material

Abstract

Here we used Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) as a reducing agent to produce Cu2O/GQDs nanocomposite from copper(II) acetate. Different morphologies of Cu2O/GQDs nanocomposites including particles, rod-like nanostructures, cauliflower-like nanostructures, and flower-like nanostructures were fabricated by tuning the synthesis parameters. Then the effect of these morphologies on the antibacterial activity of Cu2O/GQDs against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria was investigated. Results show that flower-like Cu2O/GQDs nanocomposite shows the highest antibacterial activity with MIC of 0.1 against E. coli and 0.7 against Staphylococcus aureus.