AgIO4 nanoparticles decorated on SrTiO3 microspheres as a novel Z-scheme composite photocatalyst for efficient solar-driven degradation of cefixime

The presence of antibiotics in water bodies poses severe environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable remediation technologies. In this context, photocatalysis emerged as a promising approach, leveraging light energy to degrade organic pollutants. This study introduced a novel Z-scheme SrTiO3/AgIO4 composite synthesized via a solvothermal-sonochemical route, which aimed to enhance the photocatalytic degradation of cefixime under simulated sunlight. Characterization techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and transient photocurrent response (TPR) were employed to elucidate the physicochemical and optoelectronic properties of the as-synthesized composite. The SrTiO3/AgIO4 composite degraded 73.8% cefixime in 120 min, which was remarkably higher compared to its individual components. The enhanced photoactivity was credited to the synergistic interplay of both semiconductors within the Z-scheme heterojunction, which promoted effective charge separation and reduced electron-hole pair recombination. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.