Biogenic green synthetic route for Janus type Ag:SnO2 asymmetric nanocomposite arrays: Plasmonic activation of wide band gap semiconductors towards photocatalytic degradation of Doripenem

Abstract In the present study, Janus type Ag: SnO2 heterojunction has been synthesized by a green route and has been utilized as a photocatalyst for the degradation of Doripenem, a prototype for emerging antibiotic pollutant. The kinetics of photodegradation of Doripenem was studied in aqueous solutions under solar and UV irradiation conditions. The rate constant for the photodegradation under UV irradiation was found to be 1.39 × 10−2 min−1. The obtained results, under the adopted conditions, indicated a marked influence of heterojunction structure and frequency of irradiation on the photodegradation rates of Doripenem.