The photoluminescence (PL) properties and photocatalytic activities of pure (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires and (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires doped with alkaline-earth metal ions (mg(2+), Ca2+, and Sr2+) were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed that the as-prepared nanowires were orthogonal (BiO)(2)CO3 and the calculated cell parameters of alkaline-earth metal ions doped-(BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires shifted from those of pure (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images demonstrated that numerous defects were introduced into (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires by the doped ions. PL observations showed that (BiO)(2)CO3 doping altered the relative intensity of PL emissions, by particularly lowering the emission at 467 nm. The Sr2+ ions and Ca2+ ions showed the strongest and weakest effect on the PL property of (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires, respectively. The alkaline-earth metal ions doped nanowires had enhanced photocatalytic activities, comparing to the pure nanowires. Therefore, the PL property and photochemical performance of (BiO)(2)CO3 nanowires were expected to be adjusted by doping with various cations. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.