A　series　of　hexagonal　ZnIn2S4　samples　with　different　morphologies　have　been　successfully　prepared　via　a　facile　solvothermal　approach　using　different　alcohol　solvents　with　the　optimum　synthesis　time　and　temperature.　X-ray　diffraction,　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflection　spectroscopy　and　photoelectrochemical　measurements　are　employed　to　determine　the　properties　of　the　samples.　It　is　found　that　the　solvent　has　a　significant　influence　on　the　morphology,　optical　properties　and　electronic　nature　of　the　samples.　The　photocatalytic　activities　of　the　samples　have　been　evaluated　by　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　to　benzaldehyde　to　benzaldehyde　and　the　degradation　of　methyl　orange　(MO)　under　visible　light　irradiation.　The　results　reveal　that　the　photocatalytic　activities　of　ZnIn2S4　are　closely　related　to　the　reaction　solvent.　The　ethanol-mediated　ZnIn2S4　exhibits　the　best　photocatalytic　performance　toward　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　to　benzaldehyde　and　the　degradation　of　dye　MO　compared　to　the　samples　prepared　in　other　solvents,　which　can　be　attributed　to　the　integrative　effect　of　the　enhanced　light　absorption　intensity　and　the　prolonged　lifetime　of　photogenerated　carriers.　In　addition,　a　possible　mechanism　is　proposed　and　discussed.　It　is　expected　that　our　current　research　could　promote　further　interest　on　the　synthesizing　efficient　ternary　chalcogenides　semiconducting　materials　for　environment　remediation　and　organic　transformation.　©　2018　Fujian　Institute　of　Research　of　the　Structure　of　Matter.　All　rights　reserved.