Green synthesis of 2D CuO nanoleaves (NLs) and its application for the reduction of p-nitrophenol

This article reports green synthesis of 2D CuO nanoleaves (NLs) using the amino acid L-serine and NaOH by microwave heating method. The aminoacid acts as a complexing/capping agent in the synthesis of CuO NLs. This method results in the formation of self assembled 2D CuO NLs having an average length and width of ~300 nm and ~66 nm respectively. 2D CuO NLs are composed of CuO primary single crystal nanoparticles. CuO NLs were characterized by XRD, TEM, SAED and FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The CuO NLs act as an efficient catalyst in the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in aqueous medium.