Lamellar　BiVO4　was　prepared　through　a　surfactant-assisted　hydrothermal　process.　The　obtained　lamellar　BiVO4　with　monoclinic　phase　was　used　as　photocatalyst　for　the　reduction　of　CO2,　and　exhibited　a　selective　methanol　production　under　visible-light　irradiation.　It　is　found　that　the　methanol　yield　can　be　significantly　enhanced　by　adding　NaOH　solution　in　the　BiVO4　suspension　because　the　caustic　solution　can　dissolve　more　CO2　and　the　OH-　serves　as　a　stronger　hole-scavenger　as　compared　to　water.　The　possible　mechanism　for　the　selective　methanol　production　from　the　present　photocatalytic　CO2　reduction　system　was　also　discussed.　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.