Compared　with　traditional　layered　graphene,　graphene　hydrogels　have　been　used　to　construct　highly　efficient　visible　light-excited　photocatalysts　due　to　their　particular　three-dimensional　network　structure　and　efficient　electron　transport　capacity.　In　this　work,　CuI-BiOI/rGO　hydrogel　with　excellent　photocatalytic　antibacterial　activity　was　prepared　and　its　activity　againstEscherichia　coliandStaphylococcus　aureuswas　evaluated.　The　result　indicates　that　CuI-BiOI/rGO　hydrogel　exhibits　superior　sterilization　performance　and　higher　stability　than　CuI-BiOI　and　BiOI/rGO,　and　could　completely　killEscherichia　coliandStaphylococcus　aureuswithin　40　min.　However,　only　a　small　amount　ofEscherichia　coliandStaphylococcus　aureuscan　be　inactivated　by　CuI-BiOI　and　BiOI/rGO　hydrogels.　Graphene　hydrogel　plays　a　significant　part　in　enhancing　the　disinfection　activity　of　CuI-BiOI/rGO　hydrogel.　Furthermore,　the　synergistic　effect　between　CuI　of　p-type　semiconductors,　as　a　hole　transport　layer,　and　graphene　hydrogel　greatly　increases　the　separation　and　transfer　efficiency　of　photogenerated　electron　holes　excited　by　BiOI,　and　further　improves　the　disinfection　activity　of　CuI-BiOI/rGO　hydrogel.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2021.