Green synthesis and characterization of ultrafine copper oxide reduced graphene oxide (CuO/rGO) nanocomposite

• Ultrafine and water-dispersive CuO/reduced graphene oxide is prepared by green approach. • Diameter of CuO nanoparticles decorated by rGO is in the range of 3–5 nm. • The MIC value is 1.2 and 1.8 μg/mL against E. coli and S. aureus , respectively. Ultrafine and water-dispersive CuO/reduced graphene oxide (CuO/rGO) nanocomposite was prepared by environmentally friendly approach, which displays much better antibacterial properties than that of Cu +2 /GO and CuO nanoparticles . The obtained CuO/rGO is characterized with XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, EIS and so on. The merit of this method is that the diameter of CuO nanoparticles decorated by rGO is in the range of 3–5 nm. The MIC value is only 1.2 and 1.8 μgmL −1 against E. coli and S. aureus , respectively. Moreover, the CuO/rGO demonstrates very low release of Cu +2 which can prevent from serious safety problems due to possible high concentrations of copper ions in long-term continuous application.