A　rod-shaped　BiPO4　photocatalyst　was　prepared　by　a　simple　hydrothermal　method　for　light-induced　catalytic　degradation　of　stable　aromatic　compounds　such　as　benzene　in　gas　phase　under　ambient　conditions.　The　samples　were　subjected　to　various　technical　characterizations　including　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　UV/vis　and　FTIR　spectrum,　to　determine　the　crystal　structure,　morphology,　and　optical　properties　of　the　as-prepared　photocatalysts.　Results　indicate　that　BiPO4　exhibits　much　higher　photocatalytic　activity　and　stability　under　UV　light　irradiation　than　that　of　commercial　TiO2　(Degussa　P25)　in　the　degradation　of　benzene　to　CO2.　The　active　radical　species　involved　in　the　degradation　reactions　over　BiPO4　photocatalyst　have　been　investigated　by　the　spin-trapping　electron　paramagnetic　resonance　(EPR)　spectra　and　a　photoluminescence　technique.　Theoretical　calculations　reveal　that　BiPO4　contains　highly-dispersive　conduction　bands,　enabling　high　mobility　of　the　photo-generated　carries　and　therefore　leading　to　fast　charge　transfer　and　separation.　(c)　2012　Chinese　Materials　Research　Society.　Production　and　hosting　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.