Visible-Light-Active CuO(x)-Loaded Mo-BiVO(4) Photocatalyst for Inactivation of Harmful Bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and Degradation of Orange II Dye

[Image: see text] In the present study, Mo-BiVO(4)-loaded and metal oxide (MO: Ag(2)O(x), CoO(x), and CuO(x))-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) photocatalysts were synthesized using a wet impregnation method and applied for microbial inactivation (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and orange II dye degradation under visible-light (VL) conditions (λ ≥ 420 nm). The amount of MO cocatalysts loaded onto the surface of the Mo-BiVO(4) photocatalysts was effectively controlled by varying their weight percentages (i.e., 1–3 wt %). Among the pure Mo-BiVO(4), Ag(2)O(x)-, CoO(x)-, and CuO(x)-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) photocatalysts used in bacterial E. coli and S. aureus inactivation under VL irradiation, the 2 wt % CuO(x)-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) photocatalyst showed the highest degradation efficiency of E. coli (97%) and S. aureus (99%). Additionally, the maximum orange II dye degradation efficiency (80.2%) was achieved over the CuO(x) (2 wt %)-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) photocatalysts after 5 h of radiation. The bacterial inactivation results also suggested that the CuO(x)-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) nanostructure has significantly improved antimicrobial ability as compared to CuO(x)/BiVO(4). The enhancement of the inactivation performance of CuOx-loaded Mo-BiVO(4) can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Mo doping and Cu(2+) ions in CuO(x), which further acted as an electron trap on the surface of Mo-BiVO(4) and promoted fast transfer and separation of the photoelectron (e(–))/hole (h(+)) pairs for growth of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, during the bacterial inactivation process, the ROS can disrupt the plasma membrane and destroy metabolic pathways, leading to bacterial cell death. Therefore, we provide a novel idea for visible-light-activated photocatalytic antibacterial approach for future disinfection applications.