Ag/AgVO3 nanowires and AgVO3 nanorods were synthesized in aqueous media via a facile sonochemical route. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy together with an energy dispersion X-ray spectrum analysis, transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results revealed that inert atmosphere promotes the formation of Ag/AgVO3 nanowires. The photocatalytic studies revealed that the Ag/AgVO3 nanowires exhibited complete photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B within 45 min under visible light irradiation. The antibacterial activity of Ag/AgVO3 nanowires was tested against Escherechia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The minimum growth inhibitory concentration value was found to be 50 and 10 folds lower than for the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for E. coil and B. subtilis, respectively. The antibacterial properties of the beta-AgVO3 nanorods prove that in case of the Ag dispersed Ag/AgVO3 nanowires, the enhanced antibacterial action is also due to contribution from the AgVO3 support. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.