Lamellar　BiVO　4　was　prepared　through　a　surfactant-assisted　hydrothermal　process.　The　obtained　lamellar　BiVO　4　with　monoclinic　phase　was　used　as　photocatalyst　for　the　reduction　of　CO　2,　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　BiVO　4　suspension　because　the　caustic　solution　can　dissolve　more　CO　2　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　CO　2　reduction　system　was　also　discussed.　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.