Experimental studies of BiOCl nanostructures synthesized by sol-gel and solvothermal routes for photocatalytic application

In this study, Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and analyzed under ambient conditions at room temperature using the Sol-gel (SG) and Solvothermal (ST) techniques. BiOCl nanoparticles were discovered to exhibit a pure tetragonal structure devoid of any impurities with high crystallinity determined through XRD scans. The results revealed that the diffraction intensity ratios of the (110) and (001) planes are much higher than those of the conventional patterns in both cases, supporting the idea that growth of nanoplates occurs best along the [110] crystal orientation. The synthesis of ellipsoid and flower-shaped nanostructures with intertwined nanoflakes or nanosheets verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, provided a considerable number of active sites necessary for high photocatalytic activity. The chemical composition and physical state of the nanostructures were identified through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Photocatalytic applications have been made possible by the bestowal of these hierarchical nanostructures(HNs) with significant adsorption capacities and super-hydrophilic characteristics.