Facile template-free and fast refluxing synthesis of 3D desertrose-like BiOCl nanoarchitectures with superior photocatalytic activity

3D desertrose-like BiOCl nanoarchitectures were synthesized via a facile refluxing method in the polyol triethylene glycol (TEG) without templates or surfactants. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance (UV-DRS) and nitrogen adsorption analyses. On the basis of a series of contrast experiments, the probable growth mechanism and the fabrication process of the products were proposed. These BiOCl nanoarchitectures composed of numerous nanosheets exhibit higher photocatalytic performance than BiOCl nanoparticles, nanoplates and P25 under visible light irradiation. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity of the desertrose-like BiOCl nanoarchitectures compared to other nanostructures is mainly attributed to their larger surface area, higher dye loading, special hierarchitecture, and narrow band gap.