Herein, a novel Ce3+ self-doped CeOx/FeOCl composite was successfully prepared by a facile method for the first time, which showed remarkable catalytic activity as a Fenton catalyst in the degradation of phenol under the conditions of a neutral solution, room temperature and natural light.

To aid with the environmental crisis, a new iron oxychloride/reduced graphene oxide (FeOCl/rGO) heterojunction has been successfully synthesized. The heterojunction shows enhanced photo-Fenton catalytic activity and stability relative to those of FeOCl under mild conditions (neutral solution and natural light). The surface area, optical adsorption, and electronegativity of FeOCl/rGO are larger than those of FeOCl, and these properties contribute to the enhanced catalytic perform- [a]