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/BiOC1 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 BiOCI/P25 heterostructure. In the photodegradation process, holes (14-b) can react with Cl- ions to form CI+ radicals, both of which can oxidize MO. Then Cl- radicals reduce to CI- again, forming a circulation and improving the photocatalytic activity. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.