Currently, the photocatalytic reactions occurring under solar illumination have attracted worldwide attentions due to a tremendous set of environmental problems. Taking the sunlight into account, it is indispensable to develop highly effective visible-light-driven photocatalysts. Bi2WO6 is one of newly developed visible-light-driven photocatalysts, and its photocatalytic performance is seriously dependent on its structure, morphology and components. This article features recent research progress in the preparation and growth mechanism of Bi2WO6 micro/nano-structures, including nanoplates, nanoparticles, superstructures and thin films. In addition, the advances in the doped Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6 based composites have also been overviewed. These Bi2WO6 based micro/nano-structures exhibit different photocatalytic performances on the degradation of the organic pollutant as well as the disinfection of the bacteria, and the effects of their structures and components on photocatalytic activities are also compared. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.