BiPO4/BiOBr photocatalysts were successfully prepared via a facile in situ chemical transformation method. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements were employed to characterize the crystal structures, morphologies, optical properties, and electron-hole separation efficiency of as-synthesized photocatalysts. BiPO4/BiOBr composites exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B than pure BiOBr under visible light irradiation. The significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity could be mainly ascribed to the formation of heterojunction structure of BiPO4/BiOBr composite which can effectively improve electron-hole separation during photocatalytic process. Moreover, the effects of Cl-, SO42-, NO3- and HCO3- anions on the photodegradation performance were investigated, and the as-synthesized BiPO4/BiOBr photocatalysts exhibit excellent photo-stability under visible light irradiation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.