Nuclear chemistry

Catalysis

Diethanolamine

Engineering

Oxide

Polymer chemistry

Bacteria

Biology

Materials science

Methylene blue

Antibacterial activity

Chemical engineering

Physical chemistry

Polymer

Genetics

Combinatorial chemistry

Organic chemistry

Amine gas treating

Surface modification

Thiol

Chemistry

Photocatalysis

Triethoxysilane

Grafting

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

The aim of the present study is to develop an ecofriendly and cost-effective method for the synthesis and functionalization of copper oxide (CuO) nanosheets by chemical grafting of 3-(chloropropyl)triethoxysilane (ClPTES), p-aminothiophenol (ATP) and diethanolamine (DEA). Full characterization of the resulting materials through FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning–transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) allowed confirmation of the grafting of ClPTES, ATP, DEA, and CuO crystalline phase and assessment of the average size of the as-prepared CuO (500 nm) and its high purity, respectively. Cu functionalization was found to confer high catalytic activity in 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction into 4-aminophenol (4-AP), methylene blue (MB) degradation, and decomposition of their mixture. Besides, DEA- and ATP-modified CuO also exhibited appreciable antibacterial capacity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. These results are of great importance because they provide the proof-of-concept that judicious modifications of mere CuO nanosheets provide low-cost polyfunctional materials with potential uses in catalysis and biomedical applications.

CuO Nanosheets Modified with Amine and Thiol Grafting for High Catalytic and Antibacterial Activities