Green synthesis of colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles using Carica papaya and its application in photocatalytic dye degradation

• Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using Carica papaya leaves extract.
• The reaction was made at room temperature.
• Characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles by UV–vis spectroscopy, DLS, SEM, FT-IR and XRD.
• Photocatalytic degradation of Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 by copper oxide nanoparticles.

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were synthesized by treating 5 mM cupric sulphate with Carica papaya leaves extract. The kinetics of the reaction was studied using UV–visible spectrophotometry. An intense surface Plasmon resonance between 250–300 nm in the UV–vis spectrum clearly reveals the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) exhibited that the green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles are rod in shape and having a mean particle size of 140 nm, further negative zeta potential disclose its stability at −28.9 mV. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results examined the occurrence of bioactive functional groups required for the reduction of copper ions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed the copper oxide nanoparticles crystalline nature. Furthermore, colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles effectively degrade the Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 dye beneath the sunlight.

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