Saraca indica as reducing agent for synthesis of modified copper oxide nanoparticles at low temperatures using green synthesis method

Copper Oxide (CuO) being one of the transition metal oxide has an unfathomable number of applications such as photoconductive functionalities, industrial and medical applications. The current study aims at the synthesis of CuO nanoparticles with the use of Saraca Indica (Ashoka) leaf extract, which acts as a reducing agent. The experimental conditions were optimized for nano-range synthesis of CuO particles. The obtained CuO nanoparticles have been characterized using various analytical techniques such as SEM, FTIR, XRD. Scanning Electron Microscope images revealed that the nanoparticles are in petal like shaped structures, having an average crystallite size of~ 14 nm. The XRD graph confirmed that the obtained CuO nanoparticles have monoclinic structure and has a preferred Morphology Index. The FTIR plot further confirmed the presence of Cu-O bonding with a slight modifications with functional groups. CuO nanoparticles of different properties and dimensions can be prepared with the help of different leaf concentrations and Copper salts. This work provides a simple, environmental friendly, tailor made and a cost effective way of synthesizing CuO nanoparticles using Green method.