C-coated　ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　were　successfully　synthesized　via　a　facile　one-pot　solvothermal　approach.　Their　structure　and　properties　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　(DRS),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　According　to　the　results,　C-coated　ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　are　evenly　wrapped　by　carbon　layers,　and　their　optical　and　electronic　properties　have　been　improved　compared　to　blank　ZnIn2S4.　Such　properties　can　be　tuned　by　changing　the　amounts　of　glucose　added.　Moreover,　C-coated　ZnIn2S4　nanocomposites　exhibit　much　better　photocatalytic　performance　than　blank　ZnIn2S4　toward　the　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　under　visible　light　and　mild　conditions.　The　best　performance　was　observed　at　30　mg　of　glucose　addition,　which　achieved　95%　selectivity,　70%　conversion　and　68%　yield.　This　is　attributed　to　the　synergistic　effect　based　on　the　intimate　interfacial　contacts　between　the　carbon　layers　and　ZnIn2S4,　which　could　prolong　the　lifetime　of　photoexcited　carriers.　Our　work　could　enlarge　the　application　of　ZnIn2S4　as　a　visible-light-driven　photocatalyst.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.All　rights　reserved.