Constructing 2D BiOCl/C3N4 layered composite with large contact surface for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation

The design and construction of a two-dimensional (2D) layered composite with large contact surface provide an efficient way for solving detrimental photoinduced carriers recombination. In this work, 2D layered composite coupling (001) facet of BiOCl nanoplates and (002) facet of C3N4 nanosheets was reasonable designed and successful constructed. In comparison with pure C3N4, the BiOCl/C3N4 hybrid structure with loading of 70% BiOCl exhibits the highest methyl orange photodegradation performance although BiOCl/C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst harvest less visible light. Obviously, enhanced photocatalytic performance is mainly ascribed to large contact surface of 2D layered hybrid structure, which is favorable for the interface electrons transfer and the separation of carriers between C3N4 and BiOCl. A probable degradation mechanism based on trapping experiments of active species, transient photocurrents, photoluminescence spectra, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and energy band structures is proposed. This work may provide a further insight into the rational construction composites with large interface contact for high-efficiency light utilization. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.