CeVO4-based photocatalysts have been actively studied, but to the best of our knowledge, P-doped CeVO4 with enhanced photocatalytic activity has not been reported. Herein, novel P-doped CeVO4 nanorods were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The doped P exists as PO4 tetrahedron which replaces VO4 tetrahedron. The crystal size, specific surface area, and light absorption ability of CeVO4 were tuned after doping CeVO4 by P. In particular, the separation and transmission efficiency of photo generated electron-hole pairs were improved due to the internal electric field caused by the large charge density around PO4 tetrahedron. This conclusion was also confirmed by DFT calculations. The photocatalytic activities of different samples were tested via photodegradation of aqueous organic pollutants, and a feasible mechanism of photocatalytic reaction was proposed. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.