Citric acid modulated electrochemical synthesis and photocatalytic behavior of BiOCl nanoplates with exposed {001} facets

Well-crystallized BiOCl nanoplates with exposed {001} facets were synthesized by a facile electrochemical anodic oxidation method. The thickness of the nanoplates decreases with increasing citric acid content in the electrolyte. The optical absorption edge of the BiOCl nanoplates shifts to a longer wavelength with citric acid. The BiOCl nanoplates obtained with citric acid show a high photocatalytic activity for degrading rhodamine B (RhB) as compared with that without citric acid. The photocatalytic activity of BiOCl nanoplates is higher in degrading RhB dyes than in degrading rhodamine 6G, methyl orange and methyl blue dyes. The superoxide radical and holes are the two major active species in photocatalytic degradation of RhB by BiOCl nanoplates. Citric acid can decrease the overlap in the layered structure of BiOCl and reduce the nanoplates thickness, leading to the increase in the exposure of {001} facets and the enhanced photocatalytic activity.