BiOI-sensitized TiO2, synthesized through facile deposition method at room temperature, exhibits excellent photocatalytic activities on the degradation of phenol under visible light irradiation. BiOI was revealed as an efficient semiconductor sensitizer to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and make it response visible light. The effect of BiOI amounts on photocatalytic performances was investigated, and the photogenerated charge transfer process was proposed based on the band structure of BiOI and TiO2. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.