Construction of heterostructured CaCO3/NiS with enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial performance under visible light.

[Display omitted] • Heterostructured CaCO 3 /NiS composites were synthesized via the facile hydrothermal method. • CaCO 3 /NiS showed the significantly enhanced photocatalytic bactericidal performance. • The active OH and O 2 – cooperate with vacancies to enhance bactericidal performance of CaCO 3 /NiS. CaCO 3 /NiS heterostructured composites were synthesized via the facile hydrothermal method. CaCO 3 /NiS showed the best photocatalytic bactericidal performance when the addition was 15 mg. Under 10 min visible light irradiation, about 90 % of Staphylococcus aureus was killed by composite, which was 4.5 times and 3 times faster than CaCO 3 and NiS. The addition of CaCO 3 significantly improves the photocurrent response and electron-hole pair separation rate of NiS and effectively increases the yield of active free radical groups. These groups cause the bacterial cell membrane to be destroyed and the internal proteins to be flow out, achieving the effect of killing bacteria. The solitary electron pair in the CaCO 3 /NiS composite absorbs visible light energy, making lots of atoms leave the equilibrium check point and effectively preventing the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. The inherent active substances (OH and O 2 –) cooperate with vacancies to enhance bactericidal performance. The design and synthesis of CaCO 3 /NiS composites effectively improve the sterilization effect and its application can be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]