Herein, we prepare novel composites of alpha-Fe2O3/BiOI photocatalysts by one step microwave hydrothermal process. The SEM and TEM characterization results suggest microsphere shaped of BiOI with alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles decorated on the surface of BiOI nanosheets. According to the results of UV-vis DRS measurements, alpha-Fe2O3/BiOI exhibited more visible light adsorption. The composite exhibited the highest photoactivity for decomposition of methyl orange (MO) and antibiotics tetracycline (Tc) superior to that of the pure alpha-Fe2O3 and BiOI in the visible light. The degradation rate constant is 2.3 times and 2.0 times higher than that of pure BiOI and alpha-Fe2O3 under the same conditions for degradation MO and Tc respectively. The photodegradation performances of alpha-Fe2O3/BiOI composites were also investigated under different light sources irradiation. Based on the analysis results of radical capture experiment, the enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of alpha-Fe2O3/BiOI photocatalyst can be mainly indentified to be the dominant active species of hole (h(+)) and superoxide radical(O-center dot(2)). (C) 2020 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.