Pt enhanced the photo-Fenton activity of ZnFe 2 O 4 /α-Fe 2 O 3 heterostructure synthesized via one-step hydrothermal method.

•ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 p-n heterostructure was fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal method.•Pt enhanced the degradation efficiency of ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3 from 57% to 99% under visible light irradiation.•ZnFe2O4/α-Fe2O3/Pt maintained a high degradation under an alkaline condition because holes are the main active species.