Copper Oxide (CuO) Nanoparticles: The Antimicrobial p-Type Semiconductor, Now Manufactured in Indonesia

Copper has been known for its antimicrobial properties since ancient times, but in nanoparticle oxide form, that property is amplified since a far greater surface area allows Cu²⁺ ions to be released faster, directly damaging bacterial and fungal cell walls. Copper Oxide (CuO) is also one of the few metal oxides that behaves as a p-type semiconductor, like NiO, but with a much narrower bandgap of around 1.2 to 1.7 eV, allowing CuO to be photocatalytically active under visible light, not just UV like most other popular oxide photocatalysts.

Research labs in Indonesia have typically had to import CuO nanoparticles with a consistent crystallite size and genuinely verified electrochemical performance. That's starting to change.

ITNANO (CV. Inovasi Teknologi Nano), based at the NRE Lab in Medan, is Indonesia's first private nanomaterials research startup manufacturing CuO Nanoparticles locally, with electrochemical testing run directly on every batch. Here's what CuO actually is, why its crystallite size matters, and where it's being used in research and industry today.

What Is CuO Nanoparticles?

CuO is a copper oxide with a monoclinic crystal structure, built from Cu²⁺ and O²⁻ ions. Its narrow bandgap compared to other metal oxides makes CuO responsive to a broader range of the visible light spectrum, while giving it p-type electrical conductivity useful for electrochemical applications.

Crystallite size is the biggest factor in CuO's performance, since smaller particles release Cu²⁺ ions faster for antimicrobial activity, while also providing a greater electrochemical surface area. ITNANO's CuO is supplied at 99% purity, with a chemical formula of CuO and a molecular weight of 79.55 g/mol, taking the form of a black powder. SEM analysis shows spherical particles with a diameter of 59 ± 16 nm, while its XRD pattern confirms a crystalline CuO structure consistent with JCPDS No. 48-1548, with a crystallite size of 12 nm based on the Scherrer equation. Electrochemical testing recorded a capacitance of 155 F/g at 1 A/g in 3 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte, and 271.66 F/g at 1 A/g when coated onto Ni foam in 1 M KOH electrolyte.

Where CuO Nanoparticles Is Being Used

Antibacterial and therapeutic agents

CuO's ability to release Cu²⁺ ions in a controlled manner makes it a popular active ingredient in antibacterial and antimicrobial applications, from surface coatings to therapeutic formulations that draw on its selective toxicity toward microorganisms.

Supercapacitor and battery electrodes

The 271.66 F/g capacitance at 1 A/g recorded on ITNANO's CuO shows this material is competitive as an active electrode material for supercapacitors as well as an anode material for batteries, drawing on the Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ redox couple to store charge.

Photocatalysis

CuO's narrow bandgap allows it to function as a photocatalyst under visible light, not just UV, making it an attractive candidate for degrading organic pollutants under natural lighting conditions.

Coatings, sensors, and other applications

Beyond the applications above, CuO Nanoparticles are also used as functional coating materials and active materials in various chemical sensors.

Why Source CuO Locally

CuO's crystallite size is a property sensitive to synthesis conditions, and a batch with inconsistent crystallites will deliver a different Cu²⁺ release rate and electrochemical performance, particularly important for antimicrobial applications that require a controlled dose. ITNANO, established by the Titian Research Group's NRE Lab, manufactures CuO domestically and tests its electrochemical performance directly on every batch, giving labs in Indonesia a material whose performance is genuinely verified.

Whether you're developing antimicrobial applications, formulating supercapacitor or battery electrodes, researching visible-light photocatalysis, or working on coating and sensor applications, CuO Nanoparticles gives you a crystallite size consistency and electrochemical performance that a distant supplier can't guarantee after shipping, without the import wait.

See ITNANO's Metal Oxide product line for current specifications and pricing.

Get Research-Grade CuO Nanoparticles Today

Whether you're working on antimicrobial applications, supercapacitor and battery electrodes, photocatalysis, or coating and sensor applications, ITNANO gives you direct access to locally manufactured, research-grade Copper Oxide (CuO) Nanoparticles.

📦 View product specifications at itnano.store

💬 WhatsApp: +62 822-9800-0698

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ITNANO is a product line by NRE Lab (CV. Inovasi Teknologi Nano), based in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, advancing local access to graphene, 2D materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and other advanced nanomaterials for research and industry.