Orthorhombic Bi2SiO5 nanosheets with thicknesses of 10-20 nm were first synthesized by a template-free hydrothermal synthesis process using Bi(NO3)(3) and different Si sources as raw materials. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and a photoluminescence technique with terephthalic acid. The results showed that different precursors led to samples with different morphologies, particle sizes, and BET surface areas, As a novel photocatalyst, the photocatalytic performances of Bi2SiO5 samples were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid and gaseous benzene. The results revealed that the sample obtained from Na2SiO3 as a precursor exhibited higher activity than that from (C2H5O)(4)Si due to its biscuit-like morphology, a smaller particle size, and a higher BET surface areas.