Synthesis and characterization of a novel single-phase sputtered Cu2O thin films: Structural, antibacterial activity and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

•Cu2O@200 °C thin films provided 100% photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue from wastewater.•Pesuodo-second order model showed the best fitting to equilibrium data.•Crystallinity and bandgap of Cu2O@200 °C helped in providing active sites for capturing of dye molecules.•The reusability results showed 94% stability of Cu2O thin films even after 3rd cycle.