Photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of BiOCl and Bi24O31Cl10 nanostructures synthesized by electrolytic corrosion of metal Bi

Nanostructured BiOCl and Bi24O31Cl10 have been synthesized by electrolytic corrosion of metal Bi. The photocatalysis and photoluminescence (PL) properties of BiOCl and Bi24O31Cl10 nanostructures have been investigated. Nanosheets with a thickness of ∼10 nm and in-plane size of 30–60 nm were obtained in the as-synthesized BiOCl. The emission spectra excited at 360 nm consist of two broad emission bands: ultraviolet-blue and visible. The visible emission is responsible for the photocatalytic activity of BiOCl under visible light irradiation. The nanostructured Bi24O31Cl10, self-assembled by uniform nanosheets with a thickness of 10–20 nm, exhibits a broad and strong blue shift UV emission at room temperature.

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► We report a facile method to synthesize bismuth oxychlorides.
► The BiOCl nanosheets have both ultraviolet-blue emission zone and visible emission zone.
► The Bi24O31Cl10 nanostructure is a direct electron transition semiconductor.
► The broad and intensive UV emission were observed in Bi24O31Cl10 nanostructure.