Iron　oxide-loaded　Cu2O　photocatalysts　were　prepared　by　a　facile　hydrothermal　method.　The　binary　mixed　metal　oxide　photocatalyst　was　characterized　by　XRD,　FE-SEM,　FTIR,　UV–Vis-DRS,　particle　size　and　zeta　potential　measurements.　XRD　analysis　showed　that　Fe2O3/Cu2O　catalysts　were　phase　pure　and　highly　crystalline　in　nature.　FE-SEM　images　revealed　the　formation　of　nanospherical　Fe2O3　over　the　Cu2O　surface　during　hydrothermal　reaction.　From　UV–Vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　studies,　the　optical　band　gap　of　the　Fe2O3/Cu2O　photocatalyst　was　found　to　be　slightly　red-shifted　to　1.85 eV,　after　loading　of　Fe2O3.　The　zeta　potential　analysis　revealed　that　the　surface　of　the　Fe2O3/Cu2O　photocatalyst　was　negatively　charged　in　neutral　solution.　The　loading　of　n-type　Fe2O3　on　p-type　Cu2O　augments　the　charge　carrier　separation　at　the　interface,　which　was　evident　from　the　enhanced　photodegradation　of　organic　pollutants　(Methylene　blue　and　Rhodamine　B　dyes)　under　visible　light　irradiation.　©　2017,　Springer　Science+Business　Media　B.V.