Photoelectrochemical sensing of 4-chlorophenol based on Au/BiOCl nanocomposites

The Au/BiOCl composites have been prepared by a facile one-pot ethylene glycol (EG) assisted solvothermal reaction in the presence of ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C16mim]Cl). During the synthesis procedure, the [C16mim]Cl has been used as Cl source, solvent of this system, and dispersing agent to effectively disperse Au on the surface of BiOCl. The as-prepared samples have been systematically characterized by multiple instruments to investigate the structure, morphology, and photoelectrochemical properties. According to the photoelectrochemical data, the Au/BiOCl composites exhibit better photoelectrochemical performance toward the detection of 4-chlorophenol than that of the pure BiOCl. The photocurrent response of Au/BiOCl modified electrode is high and stable under light irradiation. The proposed Au/BiOCl modified electrode shows a wide linear response ranging from 0.16 to 20mgL(-1) with detection limit of 0.05mgL(-1). It indicates a dramatically promising application of bismuth oxyhalides in photoelectrochemical detection. It will be expected that the present study may be lightly extended to the monitor of other organic pollutants by photoelectrochemical detection of the Au/BiOCl composites.