Fluoride-doped　BiVO4　with　the　F/Bi　molar　ratios　of　0,　0.09,　0.13,　and　0.29　(denoted　as　BiVO4-F0,　BiVO4-F0.09,　BiVO4-F0.13,　and　BiVO4-F0.29,　respectively)　were　synthesized　using　the　hydrothermal　strategy　with　the　hydrothermally　derived　BiVO4　as　the　precursor　and　NH4F　as　the　fluoride　source.　Physicochemical　properties　of　the　materials　were　characterized　by　means　of　a　number　of　analytical　techniques.　Photocatalytic　activities　of　the　fluoride-doped　BiVO4　samples　were　evaluated　for　the　degradation　of　phenol　under　visible-light　irradiation.　It　is　shown　that　compared　to　the　undoped　BiVO4-F0　sample,　the　fluoride-doped　BiVO4　samples　retained　the　monoclinic　structure,　but　possessed　higher　surface　areas　and　oxygen　adspecies　concentration,　better　light-absorbing　performance,　and　lower　bandgap　energies.　Among　the　four　samples,　the　porous　spherical　BiVO4-F0.29　sample　exhibited　the　best　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　degradation　of　phenol　in　the　presence　of　a　small　amount　of　H2O2　under　visible-light　illumination.　It　is　concluded　that　the　higher　surface　area　and　oxygen　adspecies　concentration,　stronger　optical　absorbance　performance,　and　lower　bandgap　energy　were　responsible　for　the　excellent　photocatalytic　performance　of　BiVO4-F0.29　for　the　photocatalytic　degradation　of　phenol.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.