A bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid material with layered structure (BiO-BTCIE) was synthesized by taking advantage of an ion exchange reaction. The structure of BiO-BTCIE was examined by XRD, EXAFS, FT-IR, TG/DTA, etc. By replacing the HCOO- with BTC anions in the Bi2O22+ interlayer, the Bi2O22+ layer is distorted as revealed by the EXAFS, which lead to a longer life time of the photogenerated charge carriers and a higher photocatalytic activity of BiO-BTCIE (more than 10 times). (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.