Highly Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance of BiOCl/X (X = Br, I) Nanocomposites with Controllable-Exposed {001} Facets

A series of BiOClyX1-y (X = Br, I.) with controllable-exposed {001} facets have been prepared by a facile liquid preparation method, using NaBiO3, HX (X = Br, I) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HONH2 center dot HCl) as the raw materials. The fundamental properties of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), FT-IR spectrophotometer and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. The photocatalytic activities of these as-prepared photocatalysts were investigated by photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RB) under visible light irradiation. BiOCl0.5Br0.5 and BiOCl0.75I0.25 nanocomposites show the best photocatalytic performance for removal of RB in individual system, respectively. A possible photocatalytic mechanism has been discussed on the basis of the results of photocatalytic experiments.