ZnIn2S4　microspheres　have　been　synthesized　by　a　facile　hydrothermal　method　at　80　degrees　C.　The　characterization　results　show　that　the　as-synthesized　sample　is　hexagonal　phase　ZnIn2S4　microspheres.　The　results　of　elemental　mapping　and　thermogravimetric　confirm　that　the　sample　is　the　pure　ZnIn2S4.　The　ZnIn2S4　sample　has　been　first　used　as　visible-light-driven　photocatalyst　for　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　to　benzaldehyde　under　ambient　conditions,　which　shows　the　conversion　is　ca.　69%　along　with　the　high　selectivity,　ca.　94%,　after　3　h　irradiation.　XRD　and　XPS　investigations　suggest　that　ZnIn2S4　is　relatively　stable　in　the　photocatalytic　reaction.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.