One-dimensional　Bi2GeO5　nanobelts　were　first　directly　prepared　by　a　surfactant-templated　hydrothermal　process.　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　and　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　were　used　to　characterize　the　obtained　samples.　By　use　of　eetyltrimefhyl　ammonium　bromide　as　the　structure-directing　template,　Bi2Ge05　nanobelts　with　widths　of　about　70-180　nm　were　obtained.　The　mechanisms　related　to　the　morphology　control　of　Bi2GeO5　are　proposed　and　discussed.　The　UV-vis　absorption　spectra　show　that　the　as-prepared　nanomaterials　have　a　strong　absorption　edge　in　UV　light　and　that　their　band　gaps　are　somewhat　relevant　to　the　size　and　morphology.　As　a　novel　photocatalyst,　the　prepared　Bi2GeO5　samples　exhibit　relatively　high　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　decomposition　of　azo　dye　methyl　orange　under　U　V　irradiations.　The　samples　obtained　under　different　amounts　of　cetyltrimethyl　ammonium　bromide　exhibited　different　photocatalytic　performances.　The　effects　of　the　crystallinity,　specific　surface　area　and　morphology　of　the　samples　on　the　photocatalytic　activities　are　also　discussed.　©　2009　American　Chemical　Society.