Review—Multifunctional Copper Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications

Abstract

Copper nanomaterials due to their unique properties are rapidly finding place as an important component of next-generation material in various sectors such as electronics, machinery, construction, engineering, pharmaceutical, agriculture, energy, environment etc In fact in past decades, researchers have devoted several studies to Cu nanomaterials, and have achieved many innovative results from synthesis to applications, highlighting its immeasurable potential for extensive practical and theoretical applications holding great promises. This review emphasises on the recent progress made in synthesis of copper nanoparticles by various techniques such as physical, chemical and biological methods. The application section describes their utility in several sectors including agriculture, environment, construction, electronics etc Moreover, the emphasis was also laid to understand the uptake mechanism of the copper nanoparticles by plants, the toxicity caused at higher concentrations and the associated implications of exposure to both human and environmental health, including the challenges and difficulties to be addressed in the future.