Novel BiOCI quantum dots modified g-C3N4 photocatalyst was synthesized by a one-step chemical bath method at low temperature. The photocatalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission microscopy UV-visible light diffusion reflectance spectrometry, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that BiOCl quantum dots were dispersed on g-C3N4 to form heterojunction structures with high specific surface area. BiOCl-g-C3N4 showed much higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3N4 and BiOCI for rhodamine B degradation. The enhanced performance was induced by the high separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.