Metal-free disinfection effects induced by graphitic carbon nitride polymers under visible light illumination

Covalent carbon nitride polymers were applied as metal-free robust catalysts for the inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 (E. coli), a common Gram-negative bacterium, under visible light illumination. The results demonstrated that the creation of antibacterial function on the surface of conjugated polymers has now become possible. Copyright © 2014 Royal Society of Chemistry.