A　series　of　novel　Pt/BiOCl　nanoplate　photocatalysts　were　synthesized　by　a　photodeposition　method.　The　as-synthesized　products　were　characterized　by　N2　physical　adsorption,　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　photoluminescence　(PL)　emission　spectroscopy,　and　UV-Vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS).　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　samples　was　evaluated　by　photocatalytic　degradation　of　acid　orange　II　under　both　UV　light　(λ　=　254　nm)　and　visible　light　irradiation.　The　N2　physical　adsorption　test　showed　that　the　deposition　of　Pt　nanoparticles　could　not　produce　obvious　change　in　the　specific　surface　area　of　the　catalyst.　The　UV-Vis　DRS　results　indicated　that　the　presence　of　Pt　nanoparticles　could　effectively　increase　the　visible　light　absorption　ability　of　Pt/BiOCl.　The　PL　spectra　indicated　that　Pt　could　effectively　suppress　the　recombination　of　photogenerated　hole-electron　pairs　of　Pt/BiOCl.　Activity　tests　showed　that　the　deposition　of　Pt　(1%-2%,　mass　fraction)　greatly　promotes　the　UV　right　photocatalytic　activity.　Pt　also　brought　about　an　obvious　visible　light　activity,　which　could　be　attributed　to　the　visible　light　absorption　and　plasmon　photocatalysis　role　of　deposited　Pt　nanoparticles.　©　2013,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.