Tunable copper oxide quantum dots: Electrochemical synthesis, characterization, and advanced applications
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Abstract
This work represents tunable copper oxide quantum dots (QDs) using an electrochemical synthesis in a mixture of electrolytes of citric acid (CA) and potassium chloride (KCl). The colloidal solutions showed a blue coloration, indicating quantum size effects and uniform dispersion of spherical QDs. The absorbance slightly decreased as the concentration of CA and KCl increased. PL studies indicated the maximum emission intensity at high CA and KCl concentrations due to great stabilization and surface-passivated quantum confinement effects. SAED confirmed polycrystalline structures of CuO and Cu2O depending on the concentration of CA and KCl. This possibility of tuning particle size and crystalline phases offers significant potential for advanced applications. For a demonstration of the QDs as an antibacterial agent, it demonstrates potential as an agent for inhibiting E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, the integration of the QDs with ZnO-based photocatalysts resulted in an enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.
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Sujinnapram, S., Kengtone, K., Raktham, C., Hongsith, K., Choopun, S., & Wongrerkdee, S. (2025). Tunable copper oxide quantum dots: Electrochemical synthesis, characterization, and advanced applications. Communications in Science and Technology, 10(1), 45-51. https://doi.org/10.21924/cst.10.1.2025.1637
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References
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Y.P. Wu, X.Y. Liu, J.R. Bai, H.C. Xie, S.L. Ye, K. Zhong, Y.N. Huang, H. Gao, Inhibitory effect of a natural phenolic compound, 3-p-trans-coumaroyl-2-hydroxyquinic acid against the attachment phase of biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus through targeting sortase A, RSC Adv. 9 (2019) 32453-32461.
S. Krobthong, T. Rungsawang, N. Khaodara, N. Kaewtrakulchai, K. Manatura, K. Sukiam, D. Wathinputthiporn, S. Wongrerkdee, C. Boonruang, S. Wongrerkdee, Sustainable Development of ZnO Nanostructure Doping with Water Hyacinth-Derived Activated Carbon for Visible-Light Photocatalysis, Toxics 12 (2024) 165.
S. Sujinnapram, S. Krobthong, S. Moungsrijun, C. Boonruang, N. Kaewtrakulchai, A. Eiad-Ua, K. Manatura, S. Wongrerkdee, A novel photocatalyst of Y2O3-BaO-ZnO ternary system for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran insecticide, Mater. Today Commun. 40 (2024) 109501.
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F. Sa'adah, H. Sutanto, H. Hadiyanto, I. Alkian, Efficient removal of amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline from aqueous solution by Cu-Bi2O3 synthesized using precipitation-assisted-microwave, Commun. Sci. Technol. 9 (2024) 170-178.
H. Yoo, S. Kahng, J.H. Kim, Z-scheme assisted ZnO/Cu2O-CuO photocatalysts to increase photoactive electrons in hydrogen evolution by water splitting, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 204 (2020) 110211.
B. Uma, K.S. Anantharaju, L. Renuka, H. Nagabhushana, S. Malini, S.S. More, Y.S. Vidya, S. Meena, Controlled synthesis of (CuO-Cu2O)Cu/ZnO multi oxide nanocomposites by facile combustion route: A potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and anticancer activity, Ceram. Int. 47 (2021) 14829-14844.
N. Subha, M. Mahalakshmi, M. Myilsamy, B. Neppolian, V. Murugesan, Direct Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite for the enhanced solar H2 production, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 553 (2018) 43-51.
X. Yuan, L. Meng, Z. Xu, C. Zheng and H. Zhao, CuO Quantum Dots Supported by SrTiO3 Perovskite Using the Flame Spray Pyrolysis Method: Enhanced Activity and Excellent Thermal Resistance for Catalytic Combustion of CO and CH4, Environ. Sci. Technol. 55 (2021) 14080-14086.
A. Mirzaei, Z. Kordrostami, M. Shahbaz, J.Y. Kim, H.W. Kim, S.S. Kim, Resistive-Based Gas Sensors Using Quantum Dots: A Review. Sensors 22 (2022) 4369.
M. Vaseem, A.R. Hong, R.T. Kim, Y. B. Hahn, Copper oxide quantum dot ink for inkjet-driven digitally controlled high mobility field effect transistors, J. Mater. Chem. C 1 (2013) 2112-2120.
F. Ebrahim, O. Al-Hartomy, S. Wageh, Cadmium-Based Quantum Dots Alloyed Structures: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications. Materials 16 (2023) 5877.
N.A. Akil, S.D. Guo, Lattice Thermal Transport of BAs, CdSe, CdTe, and GaAs: A First Principles Study. J. Electron. Mater. 52 (2023) 3401-3412.
J. Yang and X. Zhong, CdTe based quantum dot sensitized solar cells with efficiency exceeding 7% fabricated from quantum dots prepared in aqueous media, J. Mater. Chem. A 4(2016) 16553-16561.
F. Piri, M.S. Afarani, A.M. Arabi, Synthesis of copper oxide quantum dots: effect of surface modifiers, Mater. Res. Express 6 (2019) 125006.
R. Panyathip, T. Sintiam, S. Weerapong, A. Ngamjarurojana, P. Kumnorkaew, S. Choopun, S. Sucharitakul, Electrolytic effect on growth of graphene quantum dots via electrochemical process, Surf. Rev. Lett. 28 (2021) 2150117.
R. Panyathip, S. Sucharitakul, S. Phaduangdhitidhada, A. Ngamjarurojana, P. Kumnorkaew, S. Choopun, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering in Graphene Quantum Dots Grown via Electrochemical Process. Molecules 26 (2021) 5484.
N. Munandar, S. Kasim, R. Arfah, D.N. Basir, Y. Hala, M. Zakir, H. Natsir, Green synthesisof copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using Anredera cordifolialeaf extract and their antioxidant activity, Commun. Sci. Technol. 7 (2022) 127–134
S. Krobthong, S. Wongrerkdee, Incorporation of Fe and Cu for antibacterial performance enhancement of Fe-Cu-ZnO nanocomposites synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation, J. Met. Mater. Miner. 30 (2020) 38-45.
T. Rungsawang, S. Krobthong, K. Paengpan, N. Kaewtrakulchai, K. Manatura, A. Eiad-Ua, C. Boonruang, S. Wongrerkdee, Synergy of functionalized activated carbon and ZnO nanoparticles for enhancing photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and carbaryl, Radiat. Phys. Chem. 223 (2024) 111924.
A. Omelyanchik, F. G. da Silva, G. Gomide, I. Kozenkov, J. Depeyrot, R. Aquino, A.F.C. Campos, D. Fiorani, D. Peddis, V. Rodionova, S. Jovanovi?, Effect of citric acid on the morpho-structural and magnetic properties of ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles, J. Alloys Compd. 883 (2021) 160779.
M. Bai, W. Li, H. Yang, W. Dong, Q. Wang, Q. Chang, Morphology-controlled synthesis of MoS2 using citric acid as a complexing agent and self-assembly inducer for high electrochemical performance, RSC Adv. 12 (2022) 28463-28472.
C. Pizarro, M. Escudey, C. Bravo, M. Gacitua and L. Pavez, Sulfate Kinetics and Adsorption Studies on a Zeolite/Polyammonium Cation Composite for Environmental Remediation, Minerals 11 (2021) 180.
D.H. Song, Y.K. Ham, S.W. Noh, K.B. Chin, H.W. Kim, Evaluation of NaCl and KCl Salting Effects on Technological Properties of Pre- and Post-Rigor Chicken Breasts at Various Ionic Strengths, Foods 9 (2020) 721.
P. Kar, M.K. El-Tahlawy, Y. Zhang, M. Yassin, N. Mahdi, R. Kisslinger, U.K. Thakur, A.M. Askar, R. Fedosejevs, K. Shankar, Anodic copper oxide nanowire and nanopore arrays with mixed phase content: synthesis, characterization and optical limiting response, J. Phys. Commun. 1 (2017) 045012.
Z. Hu, Y. Tang, Z. Yue, W. Zheng, Z. Xiong, The facile synthesis of copper oxide quantum dots on chitosan with assistance of phyto-angelica for enhancing the human osteoblast activity to the application of osteoporosis, J Photochem. Photobiol. B 191 (2019) 6-12.
G. Liu, W. Liang, X. Xue, F. Rosei, Y. Wang, Atomic Identification of Interfaces in Individual Core@shell Quantum Dots, Adv. Sci. 8 (2021) 2102784.
S. Hao, S. Suebka, J. Su, Single 5-nm quantum dot detection via microtoroid optical resonator photothermal microscopy, Light Sci. Aappl. 13 (2024) 195.
F. Peng, Y. Sun, Y. Lu, W. Yu, M. Ge, J. Shi, R. Cong, J. Hao, N. Dai, Studies on Sensing Properties and Mechanism of CuO Nanoparticles to H2S Gas. Nanomaterials 10 (2020) 774.
D. Huo, W. Liu, Controlled synthesis of Cu2O nanorods in aqueous solution using gallic acid as both reductant and crystal growth modifier, Catal. Commun. 170 (2022) 106494.
Y. Li, X. Chen, L. Li, Facile thermal exfoliation of Cu sheets towards the CuO/Cu2O heterojunction: a cost-effective photocatalyst with visible-light response for promising sustainable applications, RSC Adv. 9 (2019) 33395-33402.
S. Krobthong, K. Umma, T. Rungsawang, T. Mirian, S. Wongrerkdee, S. Nilphai, K. Hongsith, S. Choopun, S. Wongrerkdee, C. Raktham, P. Pimpang, Synthesis and characterization of Cu2O and CuO nanoparticles in distilled water using electrochemical process, Dig. J. Nanomater. Bios. 20 (2025) 13-21.
Y. Chen, X. Wang, Z. Zeng, M. Lv, K. Wang, H. Wang, X. Tang, Towards molecular understanding of surface and interface catalytic engineering in TiO2/TiOF2 nanosheets photocatalytic antibacterial under visible light irradiation, J. Hazard. Mater. 465 (2024) 133429.
A. Menichetti, A. Mavridi-Printezi, D. Mordini, M. Montalti, Effect of Size, Shape and Surface Functionalization on the Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles. J. Funct. Biomater. 14 (2023) 244.
A. Ramasubramanian, V. Selvaraj, P. Chinnathambi, S. Hussain, D. Ali, G. Kumar, P. Balaji, S. Sagadevan, Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue from aqueous solution using green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 13 (2023) 17271-17282.
Y.P. Wu, X.Y. Liu, J.R. Bai, H.C. Xie, S.L. Ye, K. Zhong, Y.N. Huang, H. Gao, Inhibitory effect of a natural phenolic compound, 3-p-trans-coumaroyl-2-hydroxyquinic acid against the attachment phase of biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus through targeting sortase A, RSC Adv. 9 (2019) 32453-32461.
S. Krobthong, T. Rungsawang, N. Khaodara, N. Kaewtrakulchai, K. Manatura, K. Sukiam, D. Wathinputthiporn, S. Wongrerkdee, C. Boonruang, S. Wongrerkdee, Sustainable Development of ZnO Nanostructure Doping with Water Hyacinth-Derived Activated Carbon for Visible-Light Photocatalysis, Toxics 12 (2024) 165.
S. Sujinnapram, S. Krobthong, S. Moungsrijun, C. Boonruang, N. Kaewtrakulchai, A. Eiad-Ua, K. Manatura, S. Wongrerkdee, A novel photocatalyst of Y2O3-BaO-ZnO ternary system for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran insecticide, Mater. Today Commun. 40 (2024) 109501.
S. Wongrerkdee, S. Wongrerkdee, C. Boonruang, S. Sujinnapram, Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Ti-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized by Rapid Combustion, Toxics 11 (2023) 33.
F. Sa'adah, H. Sutanto, H. Hadiyanto, I. Alkian, Efficient removal of amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline from aqueous solution by Cu-Bi2O3 synthesized using precipitation-assisted-microwave, Commun. Sci. Technol. 9 (2024) 170-178.
H. Yoo, S. Kahng, J.H. Kim, Z-scheme assisted ZnO/Cu2O-CuO photocatalysts to increase photoactive electrons in hydrogen evolution by water splitting, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 204 (2020) 110211.
B. Uma, K.S. Anantharaju, L. Renuka, H. Nagabhushana, S. Malini, S.S. More, Y.S. Vidya, S. Meena, Controlled synthesis of (CuO-Cu2O)Cu/ZnO multi oxide nanocomposites by facile combustion route: A potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and anticancer activity, Ceram. Int. 47 (2021) 14829-14844.
N. Subha, M. Mahalakshmi, M. Myilsamy, B. Neppolian, V. Murugesan, Direct Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposite for the enhanced solar H2 production, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 553 (2018) 43-51.