Bismuth　oxychloride　(BiOCl)　with　controllable　morphologies　is　synthesized　for　room-temperature　removal　of　hydrogen　sulfide　(H2S)　by　a　facile　one-step　hydrothermal　methodology.　Kinetic　experiments　demonstrated　that　the　obtained　BiOCl　has　a　much　better　sulfur　adsorption　capacity　than　that　of　bismuth　oxide.　At　room　temperature,　S　atoms　replaced　O　atoms　in　the　first　few　atomic　layers　of　BiOCl　to　form　a　passivation　layer　on　its　surface,　preventing　further　erosion　of　the　BiOCl　material　by　H2S　molecules.　In　the　presence　of　oxygen,　BiOCl　can　continue　to　oxidize　the　H2S　molecules　to　sulfur.　The　diffuse　reflection　infrared　Fourier　transformation　spectroscopy　(DRIFTS)　and　spin-polarized　density　functional　theory　(DFT)　calculations　further　verify　the　adsorption　behaviors　of　H2S　molecules　on　the　surface　of　BiOCl.　The　comprehensive　insight　into　the　adsorption　behavior　of　H2S　on　the　BiOCl　surface　provides　a　reference　for　the　development　of　novel　room-temperature　desulfurization　materials　and　applications　in　anti-H2S　corrosion.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.