BiOCl nanostructures with different morphologies: Tunable synthesis and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties

BiOCl nanostructures including microspheres, microflowers, microplates, and nanoplates, have been synthesized by a simple solvothermal method using bismuth nitrate and sodium chloride as raw materials without adding any additives. Structure and morphology of the products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that the as-prepared microspheres and microflowers were composed of nanosheets. Although with different shape and lateral size, the nanoplates and microplates were all single-crystalline plates with exposed {001} facets. It was found that the volume ratio of polyethylene glycol 400 and H2O in the solvent played a key role in the morphology of the products, and the possible growth mechanism was also discussed. The photocatalytic measurements indicated that the BiOCl samples exhibit good photocatalytic properties towards Rhodamine B.