Investigation of Photocatalytic and Seed Germination Effects of TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Melia azedarach L. Leaf Extract

The captivating properties and versatile applications of TiO2 nanoparticles make them one of the emerging and widely used nanomaterials in current era. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is normally exploited to ensure environment friendly route and as potential candidate in their applications. In this work, owing to the sensitive applications of TiO2 nanoparticles in water purification and agriculture, green synthesis was preferred using leaf extract of Melia azedarach L. as reducing and capping agent. Optical, structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were examined by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively, which revealed their crystallinity and spherical shape with 50-71 nm size. Functional groups responsible for the effective fabrication and stability of nanoparticles were indicated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and purity of synthesized nanoparticles was analysed by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Nanoparticles were found to be pure, well dispersed and rutile in nature. TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited efficient degradation of Eosin dye, demonstrated as prototype of polluted water. Moreover, TiO2 nanoparticles were also found quite efficient in enhancing germination of Pennisetum glaucum seeds and represented germination index of 89.3. Therefore, green synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles by Melia azedarach L. extract can be employed as fertilizing and catalysing agents in the field of food and agriculture and as decontaminating and purifying agents in the field of environmental purification as future prospects.