Novel　sponge-like　ZnO　microcuboids　with　a　hierarchical　structure　were　fabricated　via　an　alcoholic　thermal　process.　Then　a　series　of　noble　metals　(Ag,　Pd,　Pt,　Rh)　was　loaded　onto　the　microcuboids.　The　samples　obtained　were　characterized　by　nitrogen　physical　adsorption,　powder　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS),　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　The　results　show　that　the　ZnO　microcuboids　have　a　high　surface　area　and　a　sponge-like　hierarchical　structure.　Activity　tests　for　the　degradation　of　acid　orange　II　dye　showed　that　the　noble　metals　enhanced　the　activity　of　ZnO　to　different　extents.　For　loading　of　0.5　wt.%,　the　activity　enhancement　decreased　in　the　order　Pd>Ag>Pt>Rh.　Co-loading　of　Pd　and　Ag　had　a　detrimental　effect　on　activity　compared　to　single　loading.　The　enhanced　photocatalytic　performance　can　be　attributed　to　an　increase　in　the　rate　of　separation　of　photogenerated　e-/h+　pairs　induced　by　the　noble　metals.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.