A　rod-shaped　Zn2GeO4　photocatalyst　has　been　successfully　prepared　by　a　surfactant-assisted　hydrothermal　method.　The　photocatalyst　was　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　thermogravimetric　analysis,　UV/vis,　N-2　adsorption-desorption,　and　FTIR　techniques.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　sample　was　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　benzene　in　the　gas　phase　under　UV　light　illumination　and　was　compared　with　that　of　bulk　Zn2GeO4,　commercial　titania　(Degussa　P25),　and　Pt/P25.　The　results　revealed　that　the　Zn2GeO4　nanorods　had　the　best　photocatalytic　activity　for　mineralizing　benzene　to　CO2　among　the　catalysts　examined.　No　obvious　deactivation　of　Zn2GeO4　nanorods　was　observed　during　the　prolonged　operation　of　140　h.　It　was　found　that　the　Zn2GeO4　was　also　more　active　and　stable　than　TiO2-based　catalysts　toward　photocatalytic　decomposition　of　other　volatile　aromatic　pollutants　(e.g.,　toluene　and　ethylbenzene).