LaPO4　nanorods　synthesized　by　hydrothermal　method　were　applied　as　a　novel　catalyst　for　photocatalytic　reduction　of　CO2　with　H2O　under　mild　conditions　(20　degrees　C　and　1　atm　CO2).　The　prepared　LaPO4　nanorods　exhibited　relatively　negative　E-CB　of　-0.63　V　vs.　NHE　pH　7　and　superior　CO2　adsorption　capability　of　16.3　mg　g(-1).　The　yield　rate　of　the　main　reduction　products,　CH4　and　H-2,　were　0.11　and　0.08　mu　mol/h,　respectively.　The　deposition　of　Pt　cocatalyst　improved　the　photocatalytic　performance　and　enhanced　the　selectivity　of　CO2　conversion　to　CH4　production.　The　highest　photocatalytic　efficiency　was　observed　over　LaPO4-1　wt%Pt,　with　an　apparent　quantum　yield　(AQY)　enhanced　by　5　times　as　compared　to　bare　LaPO4,　and　the　selectivity　for　CH4　production　reached　100%　at　3　wt%Pt　loading.　A　possible　mechanism　of　photocatalytic　CO2　reduction　over　LaPO4　and　LaPO4-Pt　was　proposed　that　the　Pt　cocatalyst　functioned　as　an　excellent　electron　transfer　mediator　and　adsorber　for　CO2.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.