A series of BiOBr photocatalysts with controllable morphology, crystallinity and crystalline facets orientation were prepared by a simple hydrolysis or alcoholysis method using BiBr3 as precursor in water (H2O), ethanol (EtOH) or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at room temperature. The XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and UV-Vis DRS were employed to characterize the phase structures, morphologies and physical properties of the photo catalysts. The results indicated that the solvent could influence the growth of BiOBr crystals, which further determined their specific photocatalytic performances. BiOBr prepared in water (BiOBr(H2O)) was in nanosheets-shaped morphology and was composed of the best crystallinity and unique (1 0 2) facets. BiOBr(H2O) showed superior photo catalytic activities and stability toward the degradation of MO, and also exhibited excellent with a degradation efficiency of 90% after five cycles. When BiBr3 was alcoholyed in IPA solvent, the obtained BiOBr(IPA) with (1 1 0) facets and flower-like morphologies displayed the best photocatalytic activity at the first round, but had a significant decrease in the following cycles. Hence, these results proved that the water is the best solvent and the hydrolytic method for BiOBr is feasible and promising. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.