Abstract: The BiVO4-MCM-41 composite catalyst was prepared by supporting BiVO4 with monoclinic scheelite structure on the surface of MCM-41 molecular sieve. The BiVO4-MCM-41 samples were characterized and their photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue was measured. It was found that the zircon structure or tetragonal structure of BiVO4 was first crystallized on the surface of MCM-41 molecular sieve, and under the hydrothermal treatment, the monoclinic scheelite structure of BiVO4 was formed from the zircon structure or tetragonal structure. The catalyst possessed a larger specific surface area and therefore improved its photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue owing to the increase of adsorption performance.

Key words: bismuth vanadate, MCM-41 molecular sieve, composite catalyst, photocatalysis, methylene blue, degradation