Bismuth titanate photocatalysts (Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, and Bi₂Ti₂O₇) were prepared by a chemical solution decomposition method (CSD) and structurally characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. TEM was used to examine the morphology and size of photocatalyst particles, which revealed that the average particle size is bigger than 100 nm. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra were measured and intense photoabsortption in visible light region was observed for all the bismuth titanate samples. Photocatalytic activities during the photodecolourization of methyl orange under UV irradiation showed that all the bismuth titanate compounds acted as semiconductor photocatalyst, and Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ showed the highest photocatalytic activity comparable to that of P-25.

Key words: Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, Bi₂Ti₂O₇, bismuth titanate, photocatalysis