A　CTAB-assisted　microwave　hydrothermal　method　was　used　to　synthesize　BiVO4　photocatalysts　with　different　shapes.　The　obtained　products　were　characterized　by　powder　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FESEM),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS).　The　results　showed　that　the　monoclinic　phase　BiVO4　polyhedron　was　formed　via　a　tetragonal　zircon-type　BiVO4　precursor.　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　showed　a　great　shift　to　longer　wavelengths　in　the　visible　region　for　the　monoclinic　phase　BiVO4　samples　compared　to　the　BiVO4　precursor.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　sample　was　investigated　for　the　liquid　phase　photocatalytic　degradation　of　RhB　under　visible　light　irradiation　(λ＞420nm).　The　effects　of　different　reaction　times　on　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　BiVO4　had　also　been　investigated,　and　the　highest　efficiency　was　observed　when　the　sample　was　prepared　at　140　°C　for　30min.　©　(2011)　Trans　Tech　Publications.