Nanocrystalline　B(i)2WO(6)　photocatalyst　with　nanosheet　morphology　was　successfully　synthesized　by　a　microwave-solvothermal　process.　The　prepared　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　technique　(XRD),　BET　surface　area　analysis,　Uv-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectrum　(Uv-vis　DRS),　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　In　comparison　with　a　conventional　hydrothermal　process,　the　microwave-solvothermal　process　presented　many　advantages　in　a　shorter　reaction　time,　higher　surface　area　and　more　oxygen　vacancies　for　the　preparation　of　Bi2WO6　samples.　The　absorption　edge　of　the　samples　is　at　ca.　445　nm,　corresponding　to　band　gap　energy　of　about　2.8　eV.　The　morphology　of　nanosheets　with　nanocrystals　was　also　observed.　For　the　decomposition　of　Rhodamine　B　(RhB)　under　visible　light　irradiation　(lambda　＞　420　nm),　nanocrystalline　Bi2WO6　samples　obtained　by　microwave-solvothermal　process　showed　higher　photocatalytic　activity　than　that　of　the　sample　obtained　by　conventional　hydrothermal　process.　(c)　2007　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.