Hexagonal　ZnIn2S4　samples　have　been　synthesized　by　a　solvothermal　method.　Their　properties　have　been　determined　by　X-ray　diffraction,　ultraviolet-visible-light　diffuse　reflectance　spectra,　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy,　nitrogen　adsorption-desorption　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectra.　These　results　demonstrate　that　ethanol　solvent　has　significant　influence　on　the　morphology,　optical　and　electronic　nature　for　such　marigold-like　ZnIn2S4　microspheres.　The　visible　light　photocatalytic　activities　of　the　ZnIn2S4　have　been　evaluated　by　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　to　benzaldehyde　using　molecular　oxygen　as　oxidant.　The　results　show　that　100%　conversion　along　with　＞　99%　selectivity　are　reached　over　ZnIn2S4　prepared　in　ethanol　solvent　under　visible　light　irradiation　(2＞420　nm)　of　2　h,　but　only　58%　conversion　and　57%　yield　are　reached　over　ZnIn2S4　prepared　in　aqueous　solvent.　A　possible　mechanism　of　the　high　photocatalytic　activity　for　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　over　ZnIn2S　4　is　proposed　and　discussed.　©　2013　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.