| Summary: | A novel enhanced visible light absorption BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO<sub>4</sub> heterojunction of photocatalysts could be obtained through a one-pot hydrothermal method used with two different pH solutions. There was a relationship between synthesis pH and the ratio of BiOCl to BiVO<sub>4</sub> in XRD planes and their photocatalytic activity. The visible light photocatalytic performances of photocatalysts were evaluated via degradation of diclofenac (DCFF) as a pharmaceutical model pollutant. Furthermore, kinetic studies showed that DCF degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The photocatalytic degradation rates of BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO<sub>4</sub> synthesized at pH = 1.2 and pH = 4 for DCF were 72% and 47%, respectively, showing the higher activity of the photocatalyst which was synthesized at a lower pH value. It was concluded that the excellent photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO<sub>4</sub> is due to the enhanced visible light absorption formation of a heterostructure, which increased the lifetime of photo-produced electron−hole pairs by creating a heterojunction. The influence of pH during synthesis on photocatalytic activity in order to create different phases was investigated. This work suggests that the BiOCl/AgCl/BiVO<sub>4</sub> p-n heterojunction is more active when the ratio of BiOCl to BiVO<sub>4</sub> is smaller, and this could be achieved simply by the pH adjustment. This is a promising method of modifying the photocatalyst for the purpose of pollutant degradation under visible light illumination.
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