Synthesis of a novel visible-light active Gd2O3/GdVO4/V2O5 photocatalyst for rapid purification of industrial wastewater containing organic dyes and bacteria

•Heterostructured Gd2O3/GdVO4/V2O5 nanocomposites are synthesized by ball milling with a new phase C12.6N0.6VO3.•Microstructure and morphology are tuned by milling hour.•Almost 100% photocatalytic degradation of RhB is achieved within 150 min correlated with Urbach energy.•Photodegradation mechanism of C12.6N0.6VO3 phase has been reported in this context for the first time.•Significant antibacterial property refelecting from bacterial growth curve.