Preparation and photocatalytic properties of BiOCl/Bi2MoO6 composite photocatalyst

•BiOCl/Bi2MoO6 composite has been prepared by a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method.•The photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/Bi2MoO6 composite photocatalyst is better than the single BiOCl or the single Bi2MoO6.•The special band structure of the composite leads to superior photocatalytic property.

BiOCl/Bi2MoO6 composite was prepared using a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method at 160 °C. The as-synthesized sample was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis. diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic activity of the product was evaluated through photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) and phenol under visible light irradiation. The results show that the BiOCl/Bi2MoO6 composite photocatalyst possesses better photocatalytic activity in degrading MO and phenol than the single BiOCl or the single Bi2MoO6. The better photocatalytic properties may be due to the special band structure of the composite, because of which electrons and holes are separated effectively.