Tb3+ doped BiVO4 has been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at 140 degrees C for 30 min. The structure, morphology and optical property of the Tb3+ doped BiVO4 products have been systematically investigated. This study indicates that the incorporation of Tb3+ could induce the conversion of structure from monoclinic to tetragonal for BiVO4. Furthermore, the as-obtained Tb3+ doped BiVO4 samples showed an obvious morphological change: the hollow square rod-like BiVO4 crystal gradually changed to spindle-like crystal. The Tb3+ doped BiVO4 products exhibited extraordinary photocatalytic activity for Methylene Blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation. The doped BiVO4 at a molar ratio of 2 at% (Tb and Bi) with a mixture of monoclinic and tetragonal phases showed and prominent photocatalytic degradation rate, which reached 99.9% in 120 min. The results suggest that the differences in the photocatalytic activity of these BiVO4 crystals with different Tb3+ doping concentrations can be attributed to the change of crystalline phases, and the coexistence of the monoclinic/tetragonal phases in BiVO4 products, which improve the efficient charge separation and transportation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.