The　preparation　of　ternary　hexagonal　boron　carbon　nitride　(h-BCN)　nanosheets　was　carried　out　by　doping　biomass　glucose　in　situ　into　hexagonal　boron　nitride　(h-BN).　With　this　method,　the　construction　of　a　two-dimensional　(2D)　semiconductor　with　tunable　bandgap　and　characteristic　adsorption　ability　toward　organic　molecules　was　achieved　by　maintaining　the　specific　structure　of　h-BN　and　π-π　interactions　toward　aromatic　compounds.　The　ternary　2D　h-BCN　nanosheets　worked　effectively　not　only　as　a　desirable　adsorbent　but　also　as　an　activator　to　benzene.　Furthermore,　the　unique　2D　h-BCN　nanosheets　were　found　to　work　as　effective　photocatalysts　to　convert　benzene　into　phenol　with　less　over-oxidation,　leading　to　the　development　of　a　new　type　of　Fenton　oxidation　reaction　as　the　one-step　visible　light-driven　hydroxylation　of　benzene.　An　optimal　yield　of　14.0%　and　its　selectivity　of　88.3%　for　the　photocatalytic　production　of　phenol　from　benzene　were　achieved　by　using　h-BCN　in　the　presence　of　FeCl　3　and　H　2　O　2　in　sustaining　the　same　reactivity　even　after　4　cycles.　This　present　study　reports　the　latest　development　of　phenol　production　from　benzene　by　applying　2D　h-BCN　nanosheets　as　an　artificial　photosynthetic　catalyst.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.