High-coordinated BiV/BiIV regulates photocatalytic selective activation of structural oxygen and self-generated H2O2 dominating an efficient synergistic sterilization

This study revealed that the high-coordinated BiV/BiIV regulates the photocatalytic selective activation of structural oxygen (Olat/Oads) and self-generated H2O2 assisted by the multi-physical-like effects enabling the efficient synergistic sterilization. Explicitly, we designed a new antibacterial material, α-Bi2O3−x @PPy, that functions the physical assembly and photothermal effects accomplishing the physical-like pre-damage to the cell membrane by completely unbolting its permeability, which greatly boosts the fatal bacterial inactivation achieved by the photocatalytic selective reactions. More importantly, this work found that the specific high-coordinated BiV/BiIV, generated via Bi-C-N bonds, regulates the selective •O2- generation with 80% selectivity by the photocatalytic activation of the adjacent Olat/Oads and simultaneously, triggers the self-generated H2O2 activation to produce hydroxide radicals (•OH), thus forming the dominant oxidation assaults for the fatal bacterial inactivation. Conclusively, this study not only enriches the fundamental principles for photocatalytic selective reaction but also provides a candidate sterilization strategy for practice applications. [Display omitted] •The physical assembly and photothermal effects achieved the physical-like damage to bacteria.•High-coordinated BiV/BiIV regulates selective oxidation and self-generated H2O2 activation.•The selective oxidation and H2O2 activation dominate the main fatal assaults for sterilization.•This study provides a potential candidate sterilization strategy for practice applications.