Metal-free photocatalyst with reduced graphene oxide-doped graphitic carbon nitride homojunctions for efficient antibacterial applications

Abstract

Bacterial infections are a major global health challenge, posing severe risks to human well-being. Although numerous strategies have been developed to combat bacterial pathogens, their practical application is often hindered by operational constraints. Photocatalytic materials have emerged as promising candidates for bacterial disinfection and food preservation due to their efficiency and sustainability. In this study, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) homojunction was synthesized, with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) incorporated to suppress the rapid recombination of photocarriers. The resulting composites demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial activity compared to original g-C₃N₄. The improvement is due to the critical role of RGO, which not only facilitates efficient electron transport but also introduces sharp edges that mechanically disrupt bacterial cell membranes. The experimental results demonstrated that the composite exhibited a bactericidal efficiency of 99.92% against Escherichia coli and 99.85% against Staphylococcus aureus within 180 minutes, highlighting its potential for practical antibacterial applications.