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• In-situ synthesis of cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) on cotton and coating with nanocellulose, the Cu 2 O crystal structures was ideal octahedron and not easy to ditch. • COCO-5 exhibited high photocatalytic degradation of dyes, and the catalytic degradation process was monitored by comprehensive technical tests. • COCO-5 exhibited highly effective antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. • COCO-5 maintained high stability after multiple photocatalytic degradation of dyes or antibacterial tests, and the mechanical properties of this composite had not decreased. In this study, the cotton fabrics/cuprous oxide-nanocellulose (Cu 2 O-NC) flexible and recyclable composite material (COCO) with highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of dyes and antibacterial properties was fabricated. Using flexible cotton fabrics as substrates, Cu 2 O were in-situ synthesized to make Cu 2 O uniformly grew on cotton fibers and were wrapped with NC. The photocatalytic degradation ability of COCO-5 was verified by use methylene blue (MB), the degradation rate was as high as 98.32%. The mechanism of COCO-5 photocatalysis and the process of dye degradation were analyzed by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum, transient photocurrent response (TPR) spectrum, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ion chromatography (IC). This study analyzed the complete path from electron excitation to dye degradation to harmless small molecules. Qualitative and quantitative experiments demonstrate that COCO-5 has high antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli , the highest antibacterial rate can reach 93.25%. Finally, the stability of COCO-5 was verified by recycling and mechanical performance tests. The textile-based Cu 2 O functionalized material has photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial properties, and the preparation process is simple and convenient for repeated use, so it has great potential in wastewater treatment containing dyes and bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust, metal-free, macroscopic 3D porous CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst was fabricated by the co-assembly of g-C 3 N 4 and cellulose substrate, in which such an interconnected porous network facilitates mass transport, strong adsorption and multireflection of incident light. Consequently, the CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst exhibited both an excellent adsorption capacity and improved photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation with degradation rate of 99.8%. • Robust, metal-free, 3D porous g-C 3 N 4 /cellulose hybrid photocatalyst was fabricated. • Highly porous network facilitates mass transport, adsorption and light multireflection. • Syncretic interface between g-C 3 N 4 and cellulose increases photoelectrons transfer. • Methylene blue removal ratio over the CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst reaches up to 99.8%. • The CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst exhibits mechanical stability and high reusability. Robust, metal-free, macroscopic 3D porous g-C 3 N 4 /cellulose (CN/CE) hybrid photocatalyst was successfully fabricated by the co-assembly of g-C 3 N 4 and cellulose substrate. The morphology, structure, mechanical property, optical and electrochemical performances, and photocatalytic activity of the CN/CE were investigated in detail. The obtained CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst possessed homogeneous 3D interconnected network structure, excellent mechanical strength and considerable recyclability. Also, the CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst exhibited both an excellent adsorption capacity and improved photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue (MB) degradation with degradation rate of 99.8%, much higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4 (54.2%). The enhanced photocatalytic performance of CN/CE derived from the synergistic effects of homogeneous 3D interconnected network structure and syncretic interfaces between g-C 3 N 4 and cellulose, facilitating mass transport, light absorption and reactant adsorption, as well as the transfer of the photogenerated electrons. Moreover, the CN/CE hybrid photocatalyst indicated a high reusability and stability without significant reduction in its efficiency with nearly 96% of MB degradation after four cycles. This work not only demonstrated the importance of homogeneous interconnected network structure to prepare highly effective photocatalyst, but also provided a new insight into the approach for design and utilization of stable and recyclable metal-free photocatalyst for visible light derived contaminant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]