The Role of Aqueous Inorganic Ions in Modulating the Photocatalytic Activity of Faceted BiOCl

Abstract

The coexistence of inorganic ions in aquatic environments plays a crucial role in influencing photocatalytic performance. In this study, well-defined BiOCl nanosheets, characterized by dominant {001} and {010} facets, were employed as a model photocatalyst to investigate the effects of various inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation activity of faceted photocatalysts. The results indicated that the introduction of inorganic ions significantly modulated the photocatalytic degradation rate of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) over the faceted BiOCl photocatalyst. BiOCl exhibited facet-dependent photocatalytic activity for SMX degradation, with the {001} facet demonstrating superior performance compared to the {010} facet under both cationic and anionic conditions. This study highlights the importance of facet-dependent synergy in the rational design of photocatalysts for the effective degradation of persistent pollutants in practical applications.