SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF UN-DOPED AND COPPER-DOPED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR THEIR OPTICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL STUDIES

In the present study, synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties of un-doped and Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NAPs) were explored and also have been investigated the effect of changing the dopant precursor material [Cu(NO3)(2) to Cu(NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O] on the surface morphology and the antibacterial properties of Cu-doped ZnO NAPs. The un-doped ZnO NAPs, Cu-doped ZnO NAPs (M1 NAPs, Cu(NO3)(2)) and (M2 NAPs, Cu(NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O) were fabricated through co-precipitation method. The synthesized NAPs were characterized by different spectroscopic and analytical techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of synthesized NAPs was carried out by agar diffusion method against different bacterial strains. Results from XRD, SEM, EDAX and UV-Vis examines confirmed the successful synthesis, crystalline nature and hexagonal wurzite structure of un-doped and M1 NAPs and M2 NAPs with the average grain size of 15.63 nm and 20.18 nm and 28.94 nm; and band gap energy of 3.68, 2.76 eV and 2.10 eV respectively. The synthesized Cu-doped ZnO NAPs (M2 NAPs) were disclosed the remarkable and extraordinary antibacterial activity against E. coli, and B. subtilis, with the zone of inhibitions of 31 +/- 0.4 mm and 27 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively. Better and improved antibacterial propensity was also demonstrated by M1 NAPs than un-doped ZnO NAPs and standard drug. Results thus obtained corroborate and suggest the applications of un-doped ZnO NAPs and Cu-doped ZnO NAPs as antibacterial agents. Therefore, they are worthy candidates for future pharmaceutical applications.