Solvent co-mediated synthesis of ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets with highly efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity

A series of bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanostructures were prepared via a facile solvothermal method. Well-crystallized BiOCl nanosheets were successfully obtained by controlling the ratio of different solvents. With an optimal volume ratio of solvents, sodium chloride (NaCl) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) were chosen to provide the chloride sources, separately. Compared with NaCl, besides acting as one kind of chloride source, it was found that CTAC could play a significant role in controlling the square-like structure of BiOCl. In addition, the obtained ultrathin square-like BiOCl nanosheets with 3–7 nm thickness exhibited high activity for rhodamine B (RhB) photosensitization degradation under visible-light irradiation. The BiOCl nanosheets synthesized from this study had large surface areas from 20 m2 g−1 to 35 m2 g−1, which are favorable for providing more active sites for dye adsorption and degradation. The possible mechanisms of crystal growth and degradation for RhB are discussed.