Abstract BACKGROUND Plant‐mediated synthesis represents an excellent approach to functionalize nanoparticles. In this work ZnO and Cu–ZnO nanomaterials were synthetized via a bioassisted method with Eichhornia crassipes aqueous extract. RESULTS The synthesis was carried out using zinc acetate and varying the Cu percentage (0.5, 1, and 3 wt%), and Cu precursor (copper acetate, sulfate or nitrate). The pH was adjusted to 12, and the product was calcined at 500 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed characteristic signals of metal–oxygen bonding (600 cm −1 ), along with signals attributed to organic compounds from residual extract (1515, 1384, and 1326 cm −1 ). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis confirmed the 2 + oxidation state of Cu. X‐ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of ZnO in the hexagonal wurtzite phase for all samples; the absence of additional peaks in the 2 θ range suggests that Cu is incorporated into the ZnO lattice. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed hydrodynamic sizes between 198 and 250 nm, with polydispersity index values ranging from 0.1 to 0.2, indicating moderate polydispersity with zeta potential values between −9 and −19 mV. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. In comparison with pristine ZnO nanoparticles, Cu‐doped ZnO formulations exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial activity. The MIC decreased by up to twofold against S. aureus and approximately 1.5‐fold against Escherichia coli depending on Cu precursor type and doping level. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Gutiérrez et al. (Sun,) studied this question.