A good quality of BiVO4-coated carbon fibers was successfully prepared at 180 degrees C for 5h by a hydrothermal process. The results showed that hydrothermal time and initial pH value as key processing parameters had significant influence on BiVO4 coating growth on carbon fibers. At 180 degrees C and pH = 2, fabricating BiVO4 coatings with a good crystallization would take no less than 3 h. Acidic environment more favored the isotropic growth of BiVO4 crystallites with a huge particle size, while increasing pH value was beneficial to their anisotropic growth but inhibited their nucleus formation to result in the reduction of BiVO4 particle numbers. BiVO4-coated carbon fibers exhibited a better photocatalytic performance than normal powdery BiVO4. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.