Enhanced photocatalytic reduction activity of BiOCl nanosheets loaded on β-Bi 2 O 3

BiOCl nanosheets were loaded on the surface of β-Bi 2 O 3 and its photocatalytic reduction activity was investigated. The composite displays excellent photocatalytic reduction activity. The NH 3 yield rate of β-Bi 2 O 3 /BiOCl composite is nearly 25 times as that of pure BiOCl under Xenon lamp irradiation. The β-Bi 2 O 3 /BiOCl heterojunction presents superior photocatalytic reduction activity for the degradation of Cr(VI) ions, and Cr(VI) ions are totally removed in 18 min. The results of photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal that the formation of β-Bi 2 O 3 /BiOCl heterojunction contributes to reduce the recombination of the photogenerated electrons and holes. The process of photocatalytic reduction activity over composite is explained by Z-scheme mechanism.