BiVO4　was　synthesized　from　a　mixture　of　aqueous　Bi(NO3)3　and　NH4VO3　solutions　over　a　wide　range　of　temperature　via　an　easy　hydrothermal　method.　The　BiVO4　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FE-SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　UV-vis　and　Raman　spectroscopy.　Spherical　and　decahedral　BiVO4　with　better　crystallinity　can　be　obtained　by　changing　the　reaction　temperature　and　adding　the　surfactant　sodium　dodecyl　sulfate　(SDS)　to　the　mixed　solutions.　In　addition,　we　have　tested　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　BiVO4　with　the　different　morphologies.　The　highest　initial　rate　of　O2　evolution　was　355　μmol　h-1　under　visible　light　radiation.　This　result　indicates　that　BiVO4　prepared　in　our　experiment　is　a　promising　photocatalyst　in　the　visible　light　region.　©　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.