In-situ Synthesis of Cupric Oxide Nanoplates in Chitosan Matrix

Metal oxide nanoparticles of different morphologies have been explored for their varied applications. Nanoplates of copper oxide, in particular, have been known to show better performance in sensing applications, but most methods reported for their preparation either involve toxic chemicals as stabilizers or high energy consumption. Chitosan, a derivative of chitin, has been extensively used as a stabilizer for different metal oxide based nanoparticles, and thus has been deemed as an eco-friendly approach towards the stabilization of nanoparticles. Keeping this in view, this article reports the preparation of cupric oxide nanoplates at ambient temperature synthesized inside chitosan matrix using in-situ approach. The product has been characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, FTIR, XRD and HR-TEM. The results indicate the successful formation of the aimed nanomaterial, based on which the optical, morphological, and crystal properties have been discussed.