Silver nanoparticle embedded copper oxide as an efficient core-shell for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and antibacterial activity improvementElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c8dt02154f

• Main Authors: Bouazizi, N, Vieillard, J, Thebault, P, Desriac, F, Clamens, T, Bargougui, R, Couvrat, N, Thoumire, O, Brun, N, Ladam, G, Morin, S, Mofaddel, N, Lesouhaitier, O, Azzouz, A, Le Derf, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 10.07.2018
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c8dt02154f

A facile and eco-friendly method was developed to prepare a microporous CuO@Ag 0 core-shell with high catalytic and antibacterial activities. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed a preponderance of nearly spherical 50 nm particles with slight structure compaction. Comparison of the hysteresis loops confirmed the structure compaction after AgNP incorporation, and a significant decrease of the specific surface area from 55.31 m 2 g −1 for CuO to 8.03 m 2 g −1 for CuO@Ag 0 was noticed. A kinetic study of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction into 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with sodium borohydride revealed a first order reaction that produces total conversion in less than 18 minutes. CuO@Ag 0 also exhibited appreciable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus . The antibacterial effects were found to strongly depend on the size, contact surface, morphology and chemical composition of the catalyst particles. The addition of Ag 0 -NPs produced more reactive oxygen species in the bacteria medium. These results open promising prospects for its potential applications as a low cost catalyst in wastewater treatment and antibacterial agent in cosmetics. A facile and eco-friendly method was developed to prepare a microporous CuO@Ag 0 core-shell with high catalytic and antibacterial activities.