A　novel　configuration　of　porous　ZnO/Sn1-xZnxO2-x,　heterojunction　nanocatalyst　with　high　photocatalytic　activity　was　successfully　synthesized　through　a　simple　two-step　solvothermal　method.　Porous　Sn1-xZnxO2,　was　synthesized　from　Zn2+　and　Sn4+　precursors　with　the　Zn/Sn　ratio　of　2:1　in　the　absence　of　alkali,　and　then　intermolecular　dehydrolysis　led　to　the　formation　of　heterointerface　between　Sn1-xZnxO2,　and　ZnO.　The　results　show　that　Zn2+　doping　exhibits　a　significant　influence　on　particle　size　of　SnO2　leading　to　much　higher　specific　surface　area　and　larger　band　gap,　which　is　in　favor　of　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　SnO2　under　UV　light　irradiation.　In　addition,　the　formation　of　ZnO/Sn1-xZnxO2　heterostructure　improves　the　separation　of　photogenerated　electron　hole　pairs　due　to　the　potential　difference　between　Sn1-xZnxO2,　and　ZnO,　which　also　benefits　to　photocatalysis.　By　taking　account　of　them　together,　these　results　provide　further　insight　into　the　synergistic　effects　of　metal　ion　doping　and　semiconductor/semiconductor　heterostructure　on　the　activity　of　photocatalysts　in　environmental　remediation　applications.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.