ABSTRACT Semiconductor photocatalysis represents a pivotal frontier in the quest for sustainable energy and environmental remediation. Among the diverse catalytic materials, Bismuth Oxychloride (BiOCl) has emerged as a particularly promising candidate due to its unique layered structure, featuring Bi 2 O 2 2+ layers intertwined with halogen ions, which confers exceptional photocatalytic potential. However, the practical application of pristine BiOCl is often hampered by inherent drawbacks, including a wide bandgap that limits its light absorption capacity and the inefficient separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs. This review provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of the recent progress in BiOCl‐based photocatalysts. We initially present the fundamental crystal and electronic band structures of BiOCl, which are crucial for understanding its photocatalytic properties. Subsequently, we summarize the current synthetic synthesis methods for preparing BiOCl‐based materials, critically analyzing the advantages and limitations of various approaches methods such as hydrothermal/solvothermal, hydrolysis, and electrochemical methods. Following this, we showcase the common and effective strategies for modifying BiOCl catalysts to enhance their performance, with a focus on morphology engineering, defect engineering (e.g., oxygen vacancies (OVs)), and the construction of advanced heterojunctions. A summary of the current applications of these advanced BiOCl catalysts in the fields of energy and environmental remediation, including pollutant degradation, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) reduction, and hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution, is also provided. Finally, we discuss the remaining major challenges and crucial issues that need to be addressed in future research, offering innovative perspectives and solutions for the development of next‐generation, high‐performance BiOCl‐based photocatalysts.
Han et al. (2026) studied this question.