SrTiO3/Ag2O embedded in N-doped carbon nanocomposite for advanced photocatalytic degradation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)

For environmental remediation, a novel SrTiO3/Ag2O heterostructure embedded in N-doped carbon (NDC) nanocomposite has been fabricated by the polymeric precursor method. The prepared SrTiO3/Ag2O-NDC nanocomposite has been used as a photocatalyst in dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) degradation reactions. The results showed that the tuned bandgap increased the photocatalyst's catalytic efficiency, and about 94.2% of the DDT degraded within 180 min. The role of the photo-generated spices was also determined using radical scavenging experiments and ESR spectra. The results showed that h(+) and OH center dot- play prominent roles in DDT degradation under visible light. The intermediate and the degradation mechanism were determined using GC-MS and DFT calculations. The reusability and excellent catalytic efficiency of the SrTiO3/Ag2O-NDC photocatalyst show its strengths in breaking down of organic pollutants.

Automated summary

A novel SrTiO3/Ag2O-NDC nanocomposite was fabricated as a photocatalyst for the degradation of DDT under visible light, showing high catalytic efficiency. The role of photo-generated species and the degradation mechanism were determined through experiments and calculations.