Pure and V5+-doped Bi6Mo2O15 (3Bi(2)O(3).2MoO(3)) photocatalysts were synthesized through electrospinning, followed by low-temperature heat treatment. The samples developed into nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 50 nm. The crystalline phases were verified via X-ray powder diffraction measurements (XRD). The surface properties of the photocatalysts were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The UV vis spectra showed that V doping in Bi6Mo2O15 shifted the optical absorption from the UV region to the visible-light wavelength region. The energy of the band gap of Bi6Mo2O15 was reduced by V doping in the lattices. The photocatalytic activities of the pure and V-doped Bi6Mo2O15 were tested through photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye solutions under visible light irradiation. Results showed that 20 mol% V-doped Bi6Mo2O15 achieved efficient photocatalytic ability. RhB could be degraded by V-doped Bi6Mo2O15 in 2 h. The photocatalytic activities and mechanisms were discussed according to the characteristics of the crystal structure and the results of EIS and XPS measurements. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.