In this paper, ABO(3)-tYPe perovskite LaFeO3 nanosized photocatalysts were synthesized by a sol-gel method, using citric acid (HOOCCH2C(OH)(COOH)CH2COOH) as complexing reagent and La(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O and Fe (NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O as raw materials. The as-prepared samples also were characterized by several testing techniques, such as thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), infrared spectrum (IR), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectrum (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence spectrum (PL), surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) and electrical field induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy (EFISPS). The sample activity of different LaFeO3 nanoparticles for degrading Rhodamine B solution under visible irradiation (lambda > 400 nm) was evaluated. The effects of thermal treatment temperature on photoinduced charge property and photocatalytic activity were mainly investigated, together with their relationships. The results show that the LaFeO3 sample calcined at 500 degrees C exhibits higher activity, and the activity decreases with increasing calcination temperature, which is in good agreement with the characterization results. The weaker is the PL and SPS signal, the higher is the photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the activity of all as-prepared LaFeO3 samples is higher than that of international P-25 TiO2 under visible irradiation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.