Graphitic carbon nitride loaded with bismuth nanoparticles displays antibacterial photocatalytic activity

Abstract Metal‐free graphitic carbon nitride nanomaterials have been widely applied in the medical antibacterial field owing to their high anisotropy, excellent stability, satisfactory biocompatibility, and non‐toxicity. Herein, Bi/C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were successfully constructed by hydrothermal method followed by loading bismuth on the surface of graphite carbon nitride. Bi nanospheres were tightly combined with the layered g‐C 3 N 4 surface to promote effective separation of photo‐induced charges, which results in the Bi/C 3 N 4 composite material that exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light. In addition, the surface plasmon resonance characteristics of semi‐metal Bi further enhanced the visible‐light absorption of the Bi/C 3 N 4 . However, excessive Bi may inhibit the light‐trapping ability of Bi/C 3 N 4 . 1.0% Bi/C 3 N 4 demonstrates excellent bactericidal efficiency as high as 96.4% against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), which is attributed to the promotion of the production of reactive oxidative species. The enhanced mechanism of Bi/C 3 N 4 synergistically achieving enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial activity under the coupling of multiple advantages was clarified, providing theoretical guidance for its application in the field of water disinfection and antibacterial treatment.