Rational engineering β-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction photocatalyst from tetragonal BiOCl microrods displaying high photocatalytic performance

A tetragonal cylindrical Bi2O2CO3 self-assembled from nanosheets was formed in situ by interlayered substitution using BiOCl column as the precursor. The beta-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction was synthesized then by calcining the as-formed Bi2O2CO3. The beta-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 showed excellent photocatalytic performance with k values (the apparent rate constants) were 0.1738 and 0.1162min(-1), respectively, for degrading 50 mg/L Cr(VI) solution and 10 mg/L MO. Both free radical trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer measurements proved that superoxide radical (O-center dot(2)-) was key active species photodegradation of Cr(VI) and MO. The photoluminescent spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance indicated that the beta-Bi2O3/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction had a high separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. This work provides a simple anion exchange synthesis method, which will inspire many researchers to develop high-performance catalysts.