© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) nanoparticle was prepared by solvothermal method. The starting precursors were used as bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (Bi(NO 3 ) 3 •5H 2 O), ammonium metavanadate (NH 4 VO 3 ) and absolute ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH). Solution I: Bi(NO 3 ) 3 •5H 2 O was dissolved in 2.0 M nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and absolute ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH). Solution II: NH 4 VO 3 was dissolved in 2.0 M ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH) and absolute ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH). The mixed solutions were stirred for 5 min and left into Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave treatment at 200°C for 3 and 5 h. The yellow final solution was filtered and dried at 100°C for 24 h. All BiVO 4 nanoparticle samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDXS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR).