Onion Peels Assisted Synthesis of Biofunctionalized CuO Nanoparticles as Nano-Photocatalyst and Nano-Antibiotic

Controlled precipitation of metal oxide via agro waste, providing an eco-friendly synthesis route, was verified through characteristic analysis. CuO nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method with and without aqueous extract of small onion peels, showcasing their photocatalytic and antibiotic efficacy. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Analysis (SEM-EDAX) confirmed CuO nanoparticle formation. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis indicated size reduction in templated CuO nanoparticles. Templated and non-templated CuO nanoparticles exhibited degradation efficiencies of 92% and 83%, respectively, against Crystal Violet dye under sunlight irradiation for 180 min. Minimum concentrations required for Escherichia coli were 75 mcg and 100 mcg for templated and non-templated CuO nanoparticles, respectively, while for Staphylococcus aureus, concentrations were below 25 mcg for both templated and non-templated CuO nanoparticles. This study demonstrates the efficacy of templated CuO nanoparticles synthesized through an eco-friendly route as both nano-photocatalysts and nano-antibiotics.