Porous　monoclinic　bismuth　vanadate　(BiVO4-delta)　and　sulfur-doped　bismuth　vanadates　(BiVO4-delta　S0　05,　BiVO4-delta　S0.08,　and　BiVO4-delta　S0.12)　were　synthesized　by　a　dodecylamine-assisted　alcohol-hydrothermal　route　in　the　absence　and　presence　of　thiourea　or　Na2S.　The　physicochemical　properties　of　the　materials　were　characterized　and　their　photocatalytic　performance　for　the　degradation　of　methylene　blue　and　formaldehyde　under　visible　light　was　evaluated.　The　samples　have　a　single　phase　monoclinic　scheetlite　crystal　structure　with　a　porous　olive-like　morphology,　surface　areas　of　8.4-12.5　m(2)/g,　and　bandgap　energies　of　2.40-2.48　eV.　Surface　Bi5+,　Bi3+,　V5+,　and　V4+　species　were　present　on　the　S-doped　BiVO4-delta　samples.　Sulfur　doping　influenced　the　surface　Bi5+/Bi3+,　V5+/V4+,　and　O-ads/O-latt　molar　ratios,　and　the　amount　of　sulfur　doped　had　an　important　effect　on　the　photocatalytic　performance.　Under　visible　light,　BiVO4-delta　S0　08　performed　the　best　in　the　photodegradation　of　methylene　blue　and　formaldehyde.　A　higher　surface　oxygen　species　concentration　and　a　lower　bandgap　energy　were　responsible　for　the　excellent　visible　light　photocatalytic　performance　of　BiVO4-delta　S0.08.　(C)　2013,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.