Synthesis of SrTiO3/g-C3N4 Heterostructures by Sonochemical Treatment and Application in the Photodegradation of the Drug Amiloride Under Visible Radiation

The heterogeneous photocatalysis using semiconductors has been applied in environmental remediation processes, such as the degradation of organic compounds in liquid effluents. A study was conducted aiming to obtain active heterostructures under visible radiation by the association of two semiconductors, strontium titanate (SrTiO3, STO) and carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) based on the heteroaggregation induced by difference of surface charges under sonochemical treatment. Heterostructures with 85, 50 and 15% of CN were obtained by this method. The heterostructures of STO:CN were active to degrade the drug amiloride (AML) under visible irradiation. The STO:CN50% sample showed the best performance, attributed to the formation of more heterojunctions between STO and g-C3N4, probably forming a type II heterostructure.