In-depth　understanding　the　dye　sensitization　process　over　the　semiconductor　is　the　key　issue　for　the　applications　of　dye-sensitized　solar　cells,　hydrogen　production,　and　environmental　remediation.　This　work　addresses　the　role　of　high-quality　BiOCl　nanoplates　in　the　photosensitization　process.　It　is　found　that　there　exists　a　strong　interaction　between　Rhodamine　B　and　BiOCl　nanoplates,　which　greatly　improves　the　electronic　conductivity　for　interfacial　electron　injection.　The　fluorescence　emission　of　Rhodamine　B　is　thus　markedly　suppressed　by　the　addition　of　BiOCl　suspension,　resulting　from　the　electron　injection　from　excited　Rhodamine　B　into　the　conduction　band　of　BiOCl　nanoplates.　Moreover,　benefitting　from　the　proper　conduction　band　edge　potential　of　BiOCl　nanoplates,　the　injected　electrons　can　be　trapped　by　the　surface　absorbed　O-2　to　generate　reactive　oxygen　species,　resulting　in　the　high　photosensitization　activity　for　the　Rhodamine　B　degradation　under　visible　light　irradiation.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.