World Journal of Nano Science & Technology 2(1): 14-17, 2013
ISSN XXXX-XXXX© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjnst.2013.2.1.21134

Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using
Syzygium aromaticum (Cloves) Aqueous Extract by Using Green Chemistry
Ipsa Subhankari and P.L. Nayak
P.L.Nayak Research Foundation and Centre for Excellence in Nano Science and Technology,
Synergy Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Abstract: The morphology of Copper nanoparticles was confirmed by Transmission Electron microscopy(TEM). Herein, we are reporting a novel biological approach for the formation of copper nanoparticles usingclove. Copper sulphate was made to reduce with aqueous soln of clove extracts. X-Ray diffraction (XRD)
pattern reveals the formation of Cu nanoparticles, which shows crystallinity. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) suggested particles size and shape in the range of 5-40 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image
reveals that the particles are of spherical and granular nature. UV-V in absorption shows characteristic
absorption peak of Cu nanoparticles.
Key words: Copper sulphateTEMpHSEMUV-VISINTRODUCTIONInstitute, 2008). In addition, no research has discovered
any bacteria able to develop immunity to copper as theyoften do with antibiotics [2, 3]. The emergence ofnanoscience and nanotechnology in the last decadepresents opportunities for exploring the bactericidal effectof metal nanoparticles. The bactericidal effect of metal
nanoparticles has been attributed to their small size andhigh surface to volume ratio, which allows them to interact
closely with microbial membranes and is not merely due tothe release of metal ions in solution [4, 5].

Copper nanoparticles, due to their excellent physicaland chemical properties and low cost of preparation,
have been of great interest. Copper nanoparticles havewide applications as heat transfer systems,antimicrobial
materials, super strong materials, sensors and catalysts.
Copper nanoparticles are very reactive because of
their high surface-to-volume ratio and can easily interact
with other particles [1] and increase their antimicrobial
efficiency. Colloidal copper has been used as anantimicrobial agent for decades. Copper nanoparticles(2-5 nm) have revealed a strong antibacterial activity andwere able to decrease the microorganism concentration
by 99.9%. Due to the stability of copper nanoparticles
supported on a matrix and their disinfecting properties,
copper nanoparticles can be used as a bactericide agent
to coat hospital equipment.

Plant Description
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are the aromatic dried
flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, The clove
tree is an evergreen tree that grows to a height ranging
from 8–12 m, having large and sanguine flowers innumerous terminal clusters. The flowers buds are at firstof pale colour and gradually become green after which
they develop into a bright red, when they are ready forcollecting. Cloves are harvested when 1.5–2 cm long andconsist of a long calyx, terminating in four spreading
sepals and four unopened petals which form a small ballin the center.
Cloves (shown in Figure 1) are used in Indian
Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese medicine and western
herbalism and dentistry where the essential oil is used as
an anodyne (painkiller) for dental emergencies. Cloves are

Copper Nanoparticles and Its Antibacterial Activities:
Nanomaterials are the leading in the field of nanomedicine,bionanotechnology and in that respect nanotoxicology
research is gaining great importance. The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved
registration of copper as an antimicrobial agent which isable to reduce specific harmful bacteria linked topotentially deadly microbial infections (European Copper

Corresponding Author: P.L. Nayak, P.L.Nayak Research Foundation and Centre for Excellence in Nano Science and Technology,
Synergy Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

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World J. Nano Sci. Technol., 2(1): 14-17, 2013

Fig. 1: Image of Cloves
Fig. 3: Tube A- contain copper sulphate solution, Tube
B- contain clove extract, Tube C- contain sea green
coloured copper nanoparticles solution.
Fig. 2: Chemical Structure of Compound Eugenol

Then it was crushed with the help of mortar and pestle
dispensed in 10 ml of sterile distilled water and heated for
2-3 minutes at 70-80°C. The extract was then filtered using
Whatman’s No.1 filter paper. The filtrate was collected ina clean and dried conical flask by standard sterilized
filtration method and was stored.

used as a carminative, to increase hydrochloric acid in thestomach and to improve peristalsis. Cloves are also said
to be a natural anthelmintic. The essential oil is used inaromatherapy when stimulation and warming are needed,
especially for digestive problems. Topical application overthe stomach or abdomen are said to warm the digestive
tract. Clove oil, applied to a cavity in a decayed tooth,also relieves toothache.
Cloves may be used internally as a tea and topicallyas an oil for hypotonic muscles, including for multiple
sclerosis. Some recommend avoiding more thanoccasional use of cloves internally in the presence ofpitta inflammation such as is found in acute flares of
autoimmune diseases. Eugenol (shown in Figure 2)
comprises 72-90% of the essential oil extracted fromcloves and is the compound most responsible for thecloves' aroma.

Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles: For the synthesis ofcopper Nanoparticles, both the precursor and thereducing agent were mixed in a clean test tube in 1:1
proportion. For the reduction of Cu ions, 5ml of filtered
Copper extract was mixed to 5 ml of freshly prepared 0.001
M aqueous of CuSo4 solution. It was then kept for
incubation for 1hr.Within a particular time, the change incolour was noted from Dark brown to sea green.
Thus colour change indicates reduction and reduced
copper nanoparticles were obtained.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

pH Analysis: The pH was determined by using Digital pH
meter. The pH of the reduced solution with Nanoparticle
synthesized was found to be 1.89.

Collection of Extracts: Cloves were collected from thelocal market. They were washed and cleaned with triple
distilled water and dried with water absorbent paper.

UV-Vis Spectra Analysis: The reduction of pure Cu tonanoparticle was monitored by measuring the UV-Vis
spectrum the most confirmatory tool for the detection ofTable 1: Change in color of the solution during Iron Nanoparticle synthesis
Color change----------------------------------------------------------Sr. No
Solution
Before Reduction
After Reduction
1.
Cloves Extract
Dark brown
Sea green2.
0.001 M CuSo4 Solution
cyan
Color intensity: + = Light color, ++ = Dark color, +++ = Very dark color
Table 2: Change in pH during iron nanoparticle synthesis
Plant Extract
Plant Part Taken
Binomial Name
Local name
Flower
Syzygium aromaticum
Clove
Result: ‘+’ Positive, ‘- ‘Negative.

Ph change
Before
3.43

15

After
1.89

Color intensity+Time
24 hours

UV range
500-600nm

Result+World J. Nano Sci. Technol., 2(1): 14-17, 2013

Fig. 4: The absorption maxima of copper nanopartciles at 570 nm.
Scanning Electron Microscopy: The morphology of
the as-prepared Cu productswas examined by FESEM.
The typical SEM image shows that the product mainly
consists of particle-like Cu nanoclusters with panoramicview and the size ranges from 150 to 200 nm. However,further observation with high magnification reveals thatthese Cu nanoclusters are assembled by smaller
nanoparticles, which exhibit good uniformity and theaverage diameter is about 40 nm. The average size Of
these nanoparticles is about 40–45 nm, almost inaccordance with that from SEM observations.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Fig. 5: TEM image of Copper Nanoparticles

We have prepared spherical Cu nanoparticles innanoregime by a novel biological synthesis techniquewhich is simple and environmentally benign. It is an easy,
fast and cost effective technique and doesn't involve any
harmful and environmentally toxic chemicals usedpreviously in conventional chemical reduction methods.
Aqueous solutions of Cu nanoparticles with very goodstability have been synthesized. It has been also
discussed that the biomolecules present in the biomass
not only reduce the metal ions and but also stabilize themetal nanoparticles bypreventing them from being
oxidized after the preparation.

Fig. 6: SEM image of Copper Nanoparticles

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

surface Plasmon resonance property (SPR) of CuNPs, bydiluting a small aliquot of the sample in distilled water.
UV-Vis spectral analysis was done by using UV-Vis
spectrophotometer Systronics 118 at the range of 500-600
nm.

The authors are sincerely thankful to Physics
Department, Pune University to provide XRD andNational Chemical Laboratory for Particle size analysis.
Also to the Head of the Department, University
Department of Chemical Technology, North Maharashtra
University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra and to the Directorateof General CIPET, Bhubaneswar, India. The authors arealso thankful to Shri Binod Dash, Chairman, Synergy
Institute of Technology for providing facilities to carryout this piece of research work.

Transmission Electron Microscopy: The shape and size
distribution of colloidal particles were characterized bytransmission electron microscopy (TEM) two days after
preparation. With a size range between 14 and 50 nm we
can say that those particles are large and widelydispersed.
16World J. Nano Sci. Technol., 2(1): 14-17, 2013

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