Assessing Optical Behavior and Antibacterial Potency of Mg0.91Cu0.09O Nanoparticles

This study investigates the synthesis, optical properties, and antibacterial activity of Mg₀.₉₁Cu₀.₀₉O nanoparticles (NPs), fabricated via the sol-gel method. The influence of copper (Cu) doping on the structural, optical, and antibacterial properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) was analyzed. The NPs were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and antibacterial tests against Escherichia coli (E. coli). FTIR analysis revealed characteristic absorption peaks corresponding to the metal-oxygen stretching vibrations, indicating the successful formation of MgₓCu₁₋ₓO structure. The optical bandgap (Eg) of the nanoparticles was determined to be 2.18 eV, suggesting their potential in optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications. Antibacterial testing demonstrated significant inhibition of E. coli growth with a zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 27 mm, highlighting the promising antibacterial efficacy of the synthesized NPs. These findings indicate that Mg₀.₉₁Cu₀.₀₉O nanoparticles exhibit a combination of favorable optical properties and strong antibacterial activity, making them suitable candidates for applications in biomedical and environmental fields.