Bismuth titanate with 1 at.% Zn modifications were fabricated by a chemical solution decomposition (CSD) method, and pure phase of (Bi0.99Zn0.01)(20)TiO32 was first prepared at low sintering temperature of 400degreesC. As sintered at high temperature, the phase direct transformation between (Bi0.99Zn0.01)(20)TiO32 and (Bi0.99Zn0.01)(4)Ti3O12 was observed. Their photocatalytic activities were also evaluated using methyl orange as a model organic compound. The photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange on (Bi0.99Zn0.01)(20)TiO32 is faster than that on (Bi0.99Zn0.01)(4)Ti3O12 and Bi4Ti3O12. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.