PbMoO4　and　SrMoO4　particles　were　successfully　prepared　via　a　simple　solvothermal　process.　The　obtained　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　Brunauer-Emmett-Teller　(BET)　surface　area　analysis,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy,　scanning　electron　microscopy　and　a　photoluminescence　technique　with　terephthalic　acid.　The　as-prepared　PbMoO4　samples　show　different　photocatalytic　activities　for　salicylic　acid　under　UV　light　irradiation.　PbMoO4　exhibits　relatively　high　photocatalytic　activity　for　salicylic　acid,　Rhodamine　B　and　benzene.　While,　SrMoO4　possessing　a　similar　structure　to　PbMoO4　shows　negligible　photocatalytic　activity　though　they　exhibit　similar　BET　surface　areas　and　morphologies.　Theoretical　calculations　reveal　that　PbMoO4　contains　higher　dispersive　valence　and　conduction　bands　than　SrMoO4.　The　highly　dispersive　valence　and　conduction　bands　can　lead　to　higher　mobility　of　the　photo-generated　carries　and　therefore　a　better　photocatalytic　activity.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.