Enhanced photosensitization process induced by the p–n junction of Bi2O2CO3/BiOCl heterojunctions on the degradation of rhodamine B

Herein, we report the enhanced photosensitization process in the nanosheet Bi2O2CO3/BiOCl heterojunctions photocatalyst. The combined XRD, FT-IR and Raman results have confirmed the co-existence of Bi2O2CO3 and BiOCl phases in the composites. Although both Bi2O2CO3 and BiOCl are wide bandgap semiconductors, the composites showed an unexpectedly high catalytic activity in decomposing RhB (rhodamine B) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the inner electric field formed in the Bi2O2CO3/BiOCl p–n junction.