Nanocrystalline　BiCu2VO6　was　successfully　synthesized　by　a　facile　polymeric　citrate　complex　method.　The　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　analyses,　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　high-resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy　(HRTEM),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　(DRS),　thermogravimetric　analyses　(TG)　and　differential　thermal　analyses　(DTA).　BiCu2VO6　showed　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　degradation　of　RhB　under　visible　light　irradiations　with　the　coexistence　of　H2O2.　As　compared　to　BiCu2VO6　prepared　via　a　solid　state　reaction,　BiCu2VO6　prepared　via　a　polymeric　citrate　complex　method　showed　higher　photocatalytic　activity.　The　visible　light　photocatalytic　activity　of　BiCu2VO6　was　also　proposed.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.