Characteristics and antifungal activity of CuO-ZnO nanocomposites synthesised by the sol-gel technique

• Published in: Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 17 - 22
• Main Authors: Uyen, Vo N.L., P. Anh, Nguyen, T.T. Van, Nguyen, Tri, Nguyen, V. Minh, Nguyen, N. Huy, Nguyen, V. Linh, Tran, K.P. Ha, Huynh, Gaspillo, Pag-Asa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology 01-03-2022
• Subjects: antifungal activity; CuO; nanocomposite; sol-gel; ZnO
• ISSN: 2525-2461; 2615-9937
• DOI: 10.31276/VJSTE.62(1).17-22

CuO-ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method. Characteristic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, and BJH pore diameter distributions. The formation of highly crystalline CuO and ZnO was confirmed by XRD. FT-IR confirmed that Zn-O and Cu-O bonds were formed in the material. SEM and TEM images showed that the obtained CuO-ZnO nanoparticles were nearly spherical in shape and had a uniform size distribution with sizes ranging between 5-20 nm for the CuO-containing phase and 50-100 nm for the ZnO-containing phase. The CuO-ZnO sample showed effective antifungal activities against four strains. Aspergillus and Penicillium were completely inhibited with a concentration of 5 mg/ml of CuO-ZnO. For the Magnaporthe and Neoscytalidium strains, the minimum inhibitory concentration was 10 mg/ml.