In　the　present　paper,　we　propose　a　new　type　of　catalyst,　Pt/LaVO　4　/TiO　2　(PLVT),　which　combines　the　use　of　UV　and　visible　light　for　photocatalysis　on　LaVO　4　/TiO　2　(LVT)　and　the　heating　effect　of　infrared　light　for　low-temperature　thermocatalysis　on　Pt.　Under　simulated　solar　light,　benzene　as　an　objective　pollutant　can　be　100%　eliminated　and　converted　into　CO　2　and　H　2　O　on　PLVT　at　70　°C　with　an　obvious　synergetic　effect　of　photocatalysis　and　thermocatalysis.　The　photothermocatalytic　activity　at　70　°C　is　about　three　times　the　sum　of　the　photocatalytic　activity　and　thermocatalytic　activity.　The　stable　performance　of　PLVT　in　a　60　hour　durability　test　also　indicates　its　applicable　potential.　The　roles　of　Pt　and　LVT　in　the　synergetic　effect　are　discussed　by　comparing　PLVT　with　control　samples　regarding　the　interaction　between　Pt　and　LVT　under　photothermocatalytic　conditions.　On　the　basis　of　the　above　experimental　results,　a　possible　mechanism　of　the　synergetic　effect　is　proposed.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2016.