Green synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles from herbal extracts for photocatalytic dye degradation: mechanistic insights into nano-geochemical interfaces
摘要
The integration of green-synthesized nanomaterials with environmental processes offers promising strategies for mitigating anthropogenic contaminants in ecosystems. In this study, TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous extracts from four herbal plants: Curcuma longa, Ocimum basilicum, Plencranthus amboinicus, and Calotropis procera, representing an eco-friendly approach to nanomaterial fabrication. Comprehensive characterization using SEM, TEM, XRD, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, UV–DRS, and PL was employed to elucidate the morphology, crystallinity, and electronic properties of the nanoparticles. Microscopy-based analyses revealed distinct plant-mediated morphologies that strongly influenced photocatalytic performance in the degradation of Brilliant Green (BG) dye under sun-light irradiation, with Curcuma longa-derived TiO2 exhibiting the highest degradation efficiency. This work demonstrates how green synthesis, combined with advanced characterization, provides mechanistic insights into nano-geochemical interactions between nanoparticles and contaminants. The findings highlight the potential of plant-mediated TiO2 nanoparticles as sustainable photocatalysts for dye remediation and offer a model for designing eco-friendly nanomaterials to address broader environmental challenges.