Green synthesis of CuO nanorods using Jatropha podagrica leaf extract for dye degradation and antibacterial applications

A sturdy eco-friendly synthesis technique was applied, utilizing leaf extract from the Buddha Belly plant (Jatropha podagrica) as a capping agent, to produce copper oxide nanorods (CuO NRs). Analysis of HR-TEM and SEM images confirmed that these NRs exhibit a rod-like shape and possess a monoclinic crystalline structure with an average size of 8–14 nm. The FT-IR spectrum displayed characteristic vibration modes related to the Cu–O bond between 433 and 526 cm⁻¹. The photocatalytic efficiency of the NRs was tested by exposing them to sunlight in the presence of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Crystal Violet (CV) dyes. Remarkably, the NRs degraded 95–97% of the dyes within 1–2 h. When employing 150 µL of the NRs in a well diffusion method, inhibitory zones measuring 14, 16, 13, and 11 mm were noted against Bacillus coagulans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. This study demonstrates that JP-CuO NRs effectively remove dyes from aqueous solutions and kill bacteria.