A　AgBr-Ag2MoO4　heterojunction　with　high　inactivation　of　E.　coli　under　visible-light　illumination　was　constructed.　The　crystal　structure,　morphology,　elemental　composition,　and　optical　properties　were　characterized　by　TEM,　SEM,　XRD,　XPS　and　DRS.　The　photocatalytic　inactivation　of　E.　coli　by　AgBr,　Ag2MoO4,　and　AgBr-Ag2MoO4　was　investigated.　The　results　indicate　that　AgBr-Ag2MoO4　shows　the　best　disinfection　activity　compared　to　AgBr　and　Ag2MoO4,　with　the　E.　coli　being　almost　completely　inactivated　after　illumination　for　80　min.　In　addition,　the　cell　structure　of　the　bacteria　is　destroyed　after　visible-light　irradiation　in　the　presence　of　the　catalyst.　The　UV　absorption　detection　confirms　that　the　bacterial　protein　leak　and　the　concentration　of　nucleic　acid　in　the　solution　also　increase　with　the　increase　of　the　reaction　time,　indicating　that　the　integrity　of　the　bacterial　cell　membrane　is　damaged.　The　detection　of　ROS　scavengers　indicates　that　the　reactive　species　(h+,　OH,　e−　and　O2−)　play　an　important　role　in　the　inactivation　of　bacteria.　The　EPR　tests　confirm　that　the　amount　of　OH　is　higher　than　that　of　O2−　during　the　illumination　process,　which　is　consistent　with　the　results　of　the　free-radical　capture　tests.　The　heterojunction　of　AgBr-Ag2MoO4　is　beneficial　for　the　separation　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes　during　the　illumination　process,　resulting　in　an　improvement　of　the　antibacterial　properties.　©　2023　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.