Ascorbic acid assisted synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of copper nanoparticles

The fabrication, designing and manipulation of materials within the dimensions of 1–100 nm could be termed as nanomaterials. Nowadays nanomaterials are being used in various fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering etc.1,2 The major advantage of nanomaterials is that their properties changes drastically from bulk material of the same composition. The properties of nanoparticles could be easily altered by varying their size, shape, and chemical environment.3 The earth–abundant and inexpensive metal and metal oxide nanomaterials have acquired significant attention of research community due to their potential applications in catalysis,4–6 sensors,7 antimicrobial activity,7–11 contrast agents etc.12 Among the inexpensive metal nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles have attained attentions because of their interesting and high ultraviolet–visible sensitivity, thermal and electrical conductivity, and catalytic properties as compared to metallic gold and silver nanoparticles.