Green synthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract: Impacts of the mild thermal treatment
Green synthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract: Impacts of the mild thermal treatment
Current research efforts are directing considerable attention towards the green synthesis of nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) known for their versatile technological applications. The present work is the first to report on the synthesis of TiO2 NPs using eucalyptus globulus leaf extract - a gentle, renewable, and non-toxic agent - in conjunction with titanium butoxide as a precursor in a mild thermal treatment. The results comprise four distinct biosynthesised material samples, each obtained by applying different techniques, including single and double-thermal treatments of NPs. Initially characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV–visible spectroscopy, the plant extract plays a dual role in both reduction and stabilisation, leading to a remarkable NPs stability. The phytochemicals components, including phenolic and flavonoid acids, are believed to reduce the Ti4+ ions, aiding in the creation of related NPs. The successfully synthesised TiO2 samples were characterised with diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy (DRS), FT-IR, Raman, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The findings from these investigations highlighted the pure, uniform structure, and arrangement of all NP samples, exhibiting a spherical morphology and a predominance of the anatase form. The characteristic parameters of the NPs including particle size, band gap energy, crystallinity, and lattice constants, were calculated and compared to those of commercial TiO2. The double thermally treated sample exhibits a closer resemblance to commercial TiO2 compared to both the singal thermally treated sample and the untreated counterpart. This suggests that the proposed mild thermal treatment can serve as an alternative approach for the effective and environmentally friendly preparation of TiO2 NPs, ensuring good physico-chemical characteristics for a broad spectrum of advanced and sustainable applications.
Characterisation, Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract, Green synthesis, Thermal treatment, Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Sahraoui, Abouelkacem
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Hamlaoui, Mouna
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Chikhi, Sara
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Harrat, Safia
7c77b693-c80b-4f9b-9ddd-d1f6149d38ca
Baghriche, Oualid
a1f35c89-db08-4f0d-a3d6-c34d8744c967
Zertal, Abdennour
e89a9582-2b2d-498d-85f5-d7a38e4bdd3f
Vernuccio, Sergio
4bafd7f3-0943-4f6c-bc78-b4026516ccdb
25 August 2025
Sahraoui, Abouelkacem
792900c5-2d92-4a2c-8701-8452dfeb29ad
Hamlaoui, Mouna
7f8b45c4-5bf3-4860-995e-e5a1e569ae70
Chikhi, Sara
cae7f2c3-cd91-4f6e-9cf8-cad55d1d8157
Harrat, Safia
7c77b693-c80b-4f9b-9ddd-d1f6149d38ca
Baghriche, Oualid
a1f35c89-db08-4f0d-a3d6-c34d8744c967
Zertal, Abdennour
e89a9582-2b2d-498d-85f5-d7a38e4bdd3f
Vernuccio, Sergio
4bafd7f3-0943-4f6c-bc78-b4026516ccdb
Sahraoui, Abouelkacem, Hamlaoui, Mouna, Chikhi, Sara, Harrat, Safia, Baghriche, Oualid, Zertal, Abdennour and Vernuccio, Sergio
(2025)
Green synthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract: Impacts of the mild thermal treatment.
Materials Today Sustainability, 31, [101193].
(doi:10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101193).
Abstract
Current research efforts are directing considerable attention towards the green synthesis of nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) known for their versatile technological applications. The present work is the first to report on the synthesis of TiO2 NPs using eucalyptus globulus leaf extract - a gentle, renewable, and non-toxic agent - in conjunction with titanium butoxide as a precursor in a mild thermal treatment. The results comprise four distinct biosynthesised material samples, each obtained by applying different techniques, including single and double-thermal treatments of NPs. Initially characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV–visible spectroscopy, the plant extract plays a dual role in both reduction and stabilisation, leading to a remarkable NPs stability. The phytochemicals components, including phenolic and flavonoid acids, are believed to reduce the Ti4+ ions, aiding in the creation of related NPs. The successfully synthesised TiO2 samples were characterised with diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy (DRS), FT-IR, Raman, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The findings from these investigations highlighted the pure, uniform structure, and arrangement of all NP samples, exhibiting a spherical morphology and a predominance of the anatase form. The characteristic parameters of the NPs including particle size, band gap energy, crystallinity, and lattice constants, were calculated and compared to those of commercial TiO2. The double thermally treated sample exhibits a closer resemblance to commercial TiO2 compared to both the singal thermally treated sample and the untreated counterpart. This suggests that the proposed mild thermal treatment can serve as an alternative approach for the effective and environmentally friendly preparation of TiO2 NPs, ensuring good physico-chemical characteristics for a broad spectrum of advanced and sustainable applications.
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Accepted/In Press date: 5 August 2025
Published date: 25 August 2025
Keywords:
Characterisation, Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract, Green synthesis, Thermal treatment, Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
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Local EPrints ID: 504217
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/504217
ISSN: 2589-2347
PURE UUID: 61554d40-0fda-488d-8377-319354e580de
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Date deposited: 29 Aug 2025 17:13
Last modified: 06 Sep 2025 02:18
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Author:
Abouelkacem Sahraoui
Author:
Mouna Hamlaoui
Author:
Sara Chikhi
Author:
Safia Harrat
Author:
Oualid Baghriche
Author:
Abdennour Zertal
Author:
Sergio Vernuccio
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