Curcumin-mediated synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles and its photocatalytic application

Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) has attracted significant interest due to its unique properties, including high electrical conductivity, excellent catalytic activity, and applications in catalysis, antimicrobial applications, electronics, sensors, biomedical applications, energy storage and conversion, and photocatalysis. Curcumin, a natural compound derived from the turmeric plant, has gained significant attention due to its various therapeutic properties. In this work, we report an efficient curcumin-mediated synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and their photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Synthesized Cu 2 O NP has been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, and UV–vis spectroscopy techniques. Curcumin serves effectively as a reducing agent and additionally functions as a stabilizing agent. The use of curcumin as a reducing agent eliminates the necessity for an additional stabilizing agent. Most of the particles observed to be found of circular shape having particle size in the range of 30–40 nm. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation has been carried out to obtain the optimized geometry in the ground state and the interaction present between Cu 2 O and curcumin. Mulliken charge analysis and electrostatic charge potential diagram confirm the interaction between them and the charge transfer occurring from curcumin to Cu 2 O. Hence curcumin not only acts as a reducing and capping agent but also activates the Cu 2 O catalysts for further photocatalytic reactions. • Efficient curcumin-mediated synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles has been studied. • Synthesized Cu2O NPs characterized using XRD, SEM, and UV–vis spectroscopy. • Electrostatic charge potential supports charge transfers from curcumin to Cu2O. • Curcumin acts both as a reducing and capping agent. • Cu2O catalysts facilitate photocatalytic reactions.