Gd3+　doped　Bi2MoO6　nanoplate　crystals　were　fabricated　by　solvothermal　combined　calcination　method.　The　effects　of　Gd3+　doping　with　different　concentrations　on　the　texture,　crystal　and　optical　properties　of　Bi2MoO6　were　investigated　by　N2　physical　adsorption,　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM),　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FT-IR)　and　ultraviolet-visible　diffuse　reflection　spectrum　(UV-vis　DRS),　photoluminescence　(PL)　spectroscopy,　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　Under　simulated　solar　light　irradiation,　the　influences　of　Gd3+doping　on　photocatalytic　activity　of　Bi2MoO6　were　evaluated　by　photocatalytic　degradation　of　Rhodamine　B.　The　characterization　results　showed　that　with　Gd3+　doping,　a　contraction　of　lattice　and　a　decrease　in　crystallite　size　occurred.　Meanwhile,　an　increase　in　surface　area　over　Gd3+　doped　Bi2MoO6　was　observed.　Moreover,　Gd3+　doping　could　obviously　enhance　the　visible　light　harvesting　of　Bi2MoO6　and　promoted　the　separation　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes.　With　optimum　Gd3+(6　wt%)　doping,　Gd/Bi2MoO6　exhibited　the　best　activity　and　stability　in　degradation　of　Rhodamine　B.　©　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.