TiO 2 Nanoparticles Decorated on BiOCl Flakes with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract Facile preparation route for BiOCl and BiOCl/TiO 2 nanocomposites with TiO 2 nanoparticles decorated on BiOCl flakes via solution combustion method is reported in the present paper. Structural, textural and optical properties of the prepared materials are extensively studied using various physicochemical characterization tools such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐vis spectroscopy (DRS), N 2 adsorption‐desorption study (BET), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), etc. BiOCl/TiO 2 nanocomposites show a red shift in the light absorption as compared to that of bare BiOCl which leads to the extended absorption in visible light region. Further photocatalytic experiments for Rhodamine B and phenol degradation demonstrate that the BiOCl/TiO 2 nanocomposites have superior photocatalytic properties than bare BiOCl. Improved photocatalytic performance of BiOCl/TiO 2 composites is attributed to the synergistic effect between BiOCl flakes and TiO 2 nanoparticles, extended visible light absorption and delayed charge recombination.