Nanocrystalline　Bi2MoO6　photocatalysts　were　successfully　synthesized　by　conventional　solvothermal　and　microwave-solvothermal　routes,　respectively.　The　prepared　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　BET　surface　area　analysis,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy.　The　samples　have　high　surface　areas　in　the　range　of　10-32　m(2)　g(-1).　Their　average　crystallite　sizes　are　in　the　range　of　16-35　nm.　The　absorption　edge　of　the　samples　is　at　similar　to　491　nm,　corresponding　to　a　band　gap　energy　of　about　2.53　eV.　Different　morphologies　with　nanosheets　and　nanorods　were　also　observed.　The　photocatalytic　activities　of　Bi2MoO6　photocatalysts　were　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　Rhodamine　B　under　visible-light　irradiation　(lambda　＞　420　nm).　Nanocrystalline　Bi2MoO6　samples　obtained　via　different　conditions　exhibited　different　photocatalytic　performances.　The　effects　of　the　crystallinity,　specific　surface　area　and　morphology　of　the　samples　on　the　photocatalytic　activities　are　also　discussed.　(c)　2007　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.