Insights into the photosensitivity of BiOCl nanoplates with exposing {001} facets: The role of oxygen vacancy

• BiOCl is more active towards photodegradation of RhB under visible light than UV–visible light.
• The oxygen vacancy is in situ formed during the UV–vis or UV light irradiation in BiOCl.
• The acceptor level formed by oxygen vacancy inhibits the formation of O2−·O2−·.

BiOCl nanoplates with exposed {001} facets exhibited ∼3 times higher efficiency (k = 0.034 min−1) towards photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light (183 mW/cm2) than that (k = 0.012 min−1) under UV–visible light (196 mW/cm2) irradiation. It is found that oxygen vacancy could be easily in situ formed in the {001} facets of BiOCl under UV–visible or UV light irradiation. Hence, the acceptor level under the conduction band (CB) of BiOCl formed by oxygen vacancy could trap the energetic electrons and inhibit the creation of O2−·O2−· due to its weaker reductive ability. Our current work reveals oxygen vacancy does not always play a positive role for photodegradation of organic dyes.

BiOCl nanoplates with exposed {001} facets revealed ∼3 times faster towards photodegradation of RhB under visible light than that under UV–visible light, which could be attributed to the in situ generation of oxygen vacancy under UV light irradiation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide