The Sol–gel method synthesis of Bi4NbO8Cl with (001) facets exposed for high visible-light activity

Layered perovskite oxyhalide Bi4NbO8Cl with exposed (001) lattice plane has been successfully synthesized by Sol–gel method. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, diffuse-reflection spectra, scanning electron surface area from Brunauer–Emmitt–Teller analysis. The photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of Rhodamine-B (RhB) aqueous solution can be significantly improved under visible light irradiation. Based on both high charge speration efficiency originated from the large exposed surface areas of (001) facts and high photocatalytic redox ability generated from band gap expansion, sol gel-Bi4NbO8Cl exhibit higher efficiency over solid state-Bi4NbO8Cl during the degradation of organic dyes under visble light irradiation. What’s more, the Sg-Bi4NbO8Cl photocatalyst still kept higher photocatalytic activity after five cycle measurement.