Biosynthesis of copper oxides: sustainable methods and mechanistic insights

Copper oxides, a group of chemical compounds made up of copper and oxygen atoms, come in various forms such as cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and cupric oxide (CuO). They have significant industrial applications as catalysts, pigments, and electrical conductors. Traditional methods of synthesizing copper oxides involve thermal decomposition, electrolysis, chemical reduction, and precipitation, but these methods may be costly and harmful to the environment. Hence, scientists are exploring alternative and sustainable methods of synthesis, such as biosynthesis. Biosynthesis of copper oxides involves the use of microorganisms, either naturally occurring or genetically engineered, to produce these compounds. Bacteria, fungi, and algae can employ various mechanisms to produce copper oxides, including reduction and oxidation reactions. In this review, we present a biosynthesis method for copper oxide from different microorganisms and describe its mechanism of production. We also highlight the advantages and discuss the current limitations and challenges for scaling up production.