This　paper　presents　a　novel　and　facile　method　to　fabricate　a　Bi/BiOCl　nanocomposite　with　dominant　(001)　facets　in　situ　via　a　UV　light-induced　chemical　reduction　route　under　mild　conditions.　Different　characterization　techniques,　including　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　field-emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FE-SEM),　transmission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectrometry　(DRS),　Raman　scattering,　photoluminescence　spectroscopy　(PL),　and　electron　spin　resonance　spectroscopy　(ESR),　have　been　used　to　investigate　the　structure　and　properties　of　the　Bi/BiOCl　nanocomposite.　The　variation　in　the　photoelectric　response　before　and　after　the　deposition　of　Bi　on　the　BiOCl　nanosheets　is　investigated　by　a　photoelectrochemical　experiment.　It　is　found　that　the　properties　of　the　samples,　including　their　optical　and　electrical　properties,　can　be　tuned　by　the　addition　of　Bi　metal.　The　in　situ　incorporation　of　Bi　into　the　semiconductor　BiOCl　nanosheets　can　efficiently　enhance　the　photocatalytic　performance　of　BiOCl　for　the　degradation　of　methyl　orange　(MO).　To　the　best　of　our　knowledge,　it　is　the　first　time　a　Bi/BiOCl　nanocomposite　has　been　utilized　as　a　photocatalyst　for　the　degradation　of　pollutants　under　mild　conditions.　The　high　photodegradation　activity　of　the　Bi/BiOCl　nanocomposite　can　be　ascribed　to　the　presence　of　Bi　metal,　which　can　enhance　the　light　absorption　intensity,　efficiently　separate　photogenerated　electron-hole　pairs,　and　accelerate　the　interfacial　charge-transfer　rate.　©　2013　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.