Controllable topological transformation from BiOCl hierarchical microspheres to Bi2WO6 superstructures in the Bi-W-Cl-O system

The three-dimensional (3D) Bi2WO6 superstructures assembled by nanosheets were directly transformed topologically from BiOCl hierarchical microspheres via a facile one-pot solvothermal method. Furthermore, the crystal growth of Bi2WO6 superstructure was confirmed to occur at the exposed plane (0 0 1) of BiOCl nanosheets with WO66− units replacing the interlaminar Cl atoms. Their similar layered structures favored the controllable transformation of BiOCl to Bi2WO6 through the substitution process. And this topological transformation may provide a new prospective to the synthesis of other 3D compounds.188