Facile synthesis of Cu-LDH with different Cu/Al molar ratios: application as antibacterial inhibitors

A range of Cu-LDHs has been synthesized by co-precipitation using metal nitrate precursors and sodium carbonate under varying molar ratios Cu/Al (Cu0.05–Al0.15, Cu0.10–Al0.10, Cu0.14–Al0.06, and Cu0.15–Al0.05). The uncalcined and calcined Cu-LDHs were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and N2 adsorption–desorption. The uncalcined solids showed clear hydrotalcite-like crystalline phases having a particle measurement between 5 and 16 nm. The best structure is attributed to the sample Cu0.05–Al0.15-LDHs. The particular surface areas are ranging between 40 and 92 m2/g, while the calcined samples showed the formation of Cu and Mg oxides. The antibacterial activity of Cu-LDHs with various molar ratios Cu/Al and their calcined phases were estimated towards multiple types of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus Subtilis). The Cu0.10–Al0.10-LDHs sample shows high activity against all types of bacteria either for calcined or uncalcined materials. The obtained results of the application of Cu-LDHs antibacterial inhibitors seem to be quite promising material in the antibacterial fields.