We incorporated highly stable carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with Bi2WO6 to sufficiently photocatalytic removal of gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) utilize solar energy. With the facile decoration of CQDs, the composite photocatalysts of CQDs/Bi2WO6 extend the absorption into visible light region and improve the photoexcited charge separation in comparison with pristine Bi2WO6. The CQDs/Bi2WO6 exhibited higher photocatalytic oxidation activities towards acetone and toluene under both UV-vis and visible light irradiation. In all, CQDs could be a promising candidate for visible light photocatalysts due to their superior ability to extend the visible absorption and suppress the photo-excited charge recombination. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.