Simple fabrication of BiOCl/Bi/P25 composite with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Visible-light-induced BiOCl/Bi/P25 composite materials were prepared via a hydrothermal method , and evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution. It exhibits the highest photocatalytic efficiency, which is 53.6 and 23.9 times higher than that of Bi/BiOCl and P25, respectively. The superior activity is attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of metallic Bi , and the efficient separation of the photogenerated carriers with the aid of BiOCl/P25 heterostructure . In the photodegradation process, holes (h vb + ) can react with Cl − ions to form Cl radicals, both of which can oxidize MO. Then Cl radicals reduce to Cl − again, forming a circulation and improving the photocatalytic activity .