LAUSR

Abstract The Ag/BiOCl (0 0 1) nanosheets were prepared by an UV-induced simultaneous generation of Ag nanoparticles and oxygen vacancy on the (0 0 1) facet of BiOCl nanosheets, and the (0 0 1) facet-dominant BiOCl was synthesised through a milder reaction condition at room temperature. Characteristics and properties of the products were investigated using XRD, DRS, XPS, SEM and TEM. The results showed that the BiOCl nanosheets have the tetragonal phase structures and sheet-like morphologies with thickness about 50 nm and width ranging from 200 to 400 nm. The Ag nanoparticles and oxygen vacancy were successfully formed on the (0 0 1) facet of BiOCl nanosheets. The as-prepared Ag/BiOCl nanosheets showed greatly enhanced visible light-induced photocatalytic activity in methyl orange degradation. The increased visible photocatalytic performance of Ag/BiOCl nanosheets was analytically due to the synergetic effect of surface plasmon and facet-dependent oxygen vacancy on the (0 0 1) facet of BiOCl.