Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Flower-like Hierarchical Structure of CuO NPs for Advancing Photocatalytic Efficiency and Antibacterial Applications

In recent decades, environmental pollution caused by organic dyes and pathogenic microorganisms has posed significant challenges to both ecological and public health. Therefore, the development of multifunctional materials capable of simultaneously degrading dyes and exhibiting antibacterial properties is crucial for effective environmental remediation. Combining photocatalytic dye degradation with antibacterial activity offers a promising approach to address these dual concerns in a single process. The present study investigates the copper oxide nanparticles (CuNPs) were prepared by green synthetic method using bamboo extract for degradation of methylene blue and in inactivation of biological pathogens. The green synthesized CuONPs were characterized various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques including XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, SEM/EDS, and UV-DRS analysis. The CuONPs exhibited an average particle size of 420–430 nm, with individual particles ranging from 24 to 30 nm in diameter. The photocatalytic efficiency of the as prepared CuONPs were examined through degradation of MB under visible light irradiation (VLI). The maximum degradation efficiency of 89.14% was achieved by within 150 min. The CuONPs demonstrated significant photocatalytic efficiency, attributed to their excellent charge separation properties. Additionally, to alter the catalyst amount, [MB] and pH, then identified the optimum level of degradation process. The CuONPs also exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over 85% degradation efficiency after five cycles. Furthermore, antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, with results indicating that the CuONPs were highly toxic to both bacterial strains. This study highlights the potential of CuONPs as sustainable and cost-effective photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation. The findings suggest promising applications in environmental remediation, including the removal of dyes, antibiotics, and pesticides under visible light irradiation