Novel　visible-light-driven　Al/BiVO4　photocatalysts　were　synthesized　via　a　facile　hydrothermal　method　for　the　first　time.　The　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　N-2-sorption,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　high-resolution　transmission　electron　microscopy,　Fourier　transformed　infrared　spectra　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　samples　was　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　methylene　blue　under　visible　light　irradiation　(400　nm　＜　lambda　＜580　nm)　and　was　compared　with　that　of　single-phase　BiVO4.　The　results　revealed　that　the　introduction　of　Al　can　improve　photocatalytic　performance　greatly　and　different　concentration　of　Al　resulted　in　different　photocatalytic　activity.　The　highest　activity　is　obtained　by　the　sample　with　a　doping　concentration　of　12　at%.　The　reason　for　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　activities　of　Al/BiVO4　samples　was　also　discussed　in　this　paper.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.