Full solar spectrum-driven CuO/PDINH heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial activity and mechanism insight.

Marine biofouling hazards the sustainable development of the environment and has become a potential threat to environmental and ecological security. Photocatalytic antibacterial agents driven by the full solar spectrum are promising antifouling agents for environmental protection. The cuprous oxide/perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboximide (CuO/PDINH) heterostructure was successfully constructed by integrating p-type CuO and n-type PDINH to improve photocatalytic antibacterial efficiency. PDINH extended the absorption spectrum from ultraviolet to near-infrared, improving light utilization by 75 %. The CuO/PDINH heterostructure reduced the toxicity risk of CuO for environmental pollution, achieved full solar spectrum drive and overcame the inherent defect that CuO cannot produce singlet oxygen. The CuO/PDINH heterostructure exhibited excellent long-term and photocatalytic antibacterial activity with an antibacterial rate of > 90 % due to the sterilization of copper ions and the continuous generation of ROS driven by the full solar spectrum. This inorganic-organic CuO/PDINH heterostructure shows great application prospects in energy and the environment. The CuO/PDINH heterostructure with effective ROS increase and superior photocatalytic sterilization efficiency has great potential for environmentally friendly marine antifouling agents.