Bioinspired photocatalytic ZnO/Au nanopillar-modified surface for enhanced antibacterial and antiadhesive property

•ZnO/Au nanopillars are fabricated by hydrothermal and photo-reduction.•PDMS-ZnO/Au shows a mechanical antimicrobial effect in the dark.•A two-fold antibacterial action occurs for PDMS-ZnO/Au under visible light.•The modified PDMS could also function as an antifouling surface.