Enhanced photosensitization decomposition of rhodamine B onto BiOCl nanosheets with controllable-exposed {001} facets

In this work, single-crystalline bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) with controllable {001} exposing percentages ({001}%) has been successfully synthesized by a facile liquid chemical preparation process in hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HONH₂ HCl) solution. It was found that the concentration of hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution plays a crucial role in the formation of the BiOCl nanosheets. The as-prepared BiOCl nanosheets with three different {001}% (i.e., 57%, 87% and 94%) were characterized by XRD, TEM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. The sorption as well as visible-light-induced photosensitization behavior has been evaluated by using Rhodamine B dye as the model contaminant. It was interesting to find that a decreased {001}% is beneficial to the enhanced photodegradation activity, which is possibly caused by the improved sorption capacity as well as the charge transfer kinetics.