A Facile Synthesis of GO/CuO Nanocomposite with Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity for the Degradation of Azure-B Dye and Its Antimicrobial Behavior

Graphene oxide (GO) and GO/CuO nanocomposites were synthesized by modified Hummer's and hydrothermal methods, respectively, and characterized using standard techniques such as TEM, TGA-DTA, UV-Vis DRS, EDS and mapping, FESEM, FTIR, Raman, XRD, BET surface area and PL spectra. The photocatalytic degradation of Azure-B dye was carried to evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency of GO/CuO nanocomposite. The superior catalytic activity of the GO/CuO nanocomposite was attributed to the synergism that existed between GO and CuO nanoparticles such as high surface area and small size of GO/CuO NPs. The recycling results demonstrated that the GO/CuO nanocomposite exhibited good stability and long-term durability. In addition, antibacterial studies of the GO and GO/CuO nanocomposite were investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. These were also assayed for their antifungal activity against fungal strains Penicillium spp. and A. flavus. The newly synthesized GO/CuO nanocomposite was reported to show excellent antibacterial activity as compared to GO.