Biogenic Synthesis and Characterization of TiO₂ Nanoparticles Using Lepidagathis Leaf Extract

For the first time, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles were synthesized through a green route using leaf extracts from three underexplored species of the Acanthaceae family—Lepidagathis sabui, Lepidagathis Shrirangii, and Lepidagathis ushae. The phytochemicals present in the extracts acted as natural reducing and stabilizing agents, enabling an eco-friendly and cost-effective synthesis without hazardous chemicals. The nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and EDS analyses. UV–Vis DRS spectroscopy showed an absorption edge with a band gap of ~3.2 eV, typical of TiO₂ semiconductors and indicative of photocatalytic potential. FTIR confirmed Ti–O–Ti vibrations, SEM and TEM revealed uniformly distributed semi-spherical nanoparticles, and EDS verified titanium and oxygen as the primary constituents. These results establish Acanthaceae leaf extracts as sustainable bioresources for TiO₂ nanomaterial fabrication, highlighting their promise in photocatalysis, environmental remediation, and broader nanotechnology applications.