Using　a　facile　hydrothermal　method,　pure　alpha-Bi2O3　samples　with　rod-like　structure　were　synthesized.　Amorphous　Cu(II)　clusters　were　loaded　on　the　as-obtained　alpha-Bi2O3　samples　by　an　impregnation　method.　The　prepared　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　and　transmission　microscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　and　UV-visible　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy.　The　photocatalytic　activities　were　evaluated　from　gaseous　2-propanol　decomposition　under　visible　light　irradiation.　It　is　found　that　crystal　structure　and　the　morphologies　were　not　changed　by　the　Cu(II)　clusters　modification.　Pure　Bi2O3　sample　showed　a　limited　photocatalytic　activity　due　to　its　low　conduction　band　edge.　After　Cu(II)　clusters　modification,　the　photocatalytic　activity　was　significantly　improved.　The　Cu(II)　clusters　play　a　critical　role　in　the　charge　separation　and　efficient　oxygen　reduction,　which　explains　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity.　(c)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.