Synergistic antifungal and antibacterial activity of Eu ³⁺ doped copper oxide nanostructures synthesized by wet chemical approach

Abstract Over the years, metal oxides have been extensively explored for the development of novel antibacterial materials. In the pursuit of enhanced efficiency, rare earth elements have often been employed as optical dopants, offering a promising route to improved performance. In this study, Eu-doped Cu 64 O nanoparticles were synthesized via a wet chemical method and exhibiting enhanced antimicrobial activity. For the first time, the effects of Eu doping on Cu 64 O nanoparticles are systematically investigated for biomedical applications. Structural characterization confirms an orthorhombic crystal structure with an average crystallite size of 16.42 nm, while morphological analysis reveals spherical nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 17 to 23 nm. Optical studies indicate increased band gap energy of 1.441 eV upon Eu doping. Notably, the Eu-doped Cu 64 O nanoparticles exhibit strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger with an inhibition zone of 18 mm, as well as significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a 14 mm inhibition zone. These findings highlight the potential of Eu-doped Cu 64 O nanoparticles as effective antimicrobial agents for biomedical applications.