Layer-structured　Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4　heterojunction　photocatalysts　were　successfully　prepared　via　one　pot　hydrothermal　method　for　the　first　time,　in　which　graphitic　carbon　nitride　(g-C3N4)　served　as　the　self-sacrificial　reagent　to　supply　carbonate　anions　simultaneously.　Our　results　showed　that　the　in　situ　fabricatedi(2)O(2)CO(3)/g-C3N4　heterojunction　exhibited　superior　visible-light-driven　photocatalytic　activity　for　NO　photocatalytic　oxidation,　which　can　be　ascribed　to　the　morphology　and　structure　modulation　during　the　sacrificial　synthesis　processes.　Heterojunctions　formation　pathways　underlying　temperature　and　time-dependent　structure　evolution　were　discussed　in　detail.　The　sample　fabricated　at　160　degrees　C　for　12h　(BOC-CN-160)　showed　high　stability　and　durability,　and　the　highest　NO　removal　rate　which　is　up　to　34.8%　under　visible　light　irradiation.　Results　from　photocurrent　tests　and　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy　(EIS)　demonstrated　that　the　BOC-CN-160　sample　presents　much　more　effective　interface　charge　separation　efficiency,　which　can　contribute　to　its　remarkably　improved　photocatalytic　performance.　Reactive　＂radicals　during　the　photocatalysis　processes　were　identified　by　electron　spin　resonance　(ESR)　study.　Combined　with　the　quantification　of　reaction　intermediates,　the　photocatalytic　degradation　mechanism　of　NO　over　Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4　heterojunction　photocatalystwas　proposed.　The　novel　approach　developed　in　this　study　may　be　further　extended　to　synthesize　a　series　of　novel　and　highly　efficient　g-C3N4-based　carbonate　heterojunction　photocatalysts　for　visible　light-harvesting　and　energy　conversion　applications.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.