Advanced　oxidation　process　(AOP)　through　the　photocatalytic　activation　of　peroxymonosulfate　(PMS)　has　attracted　much　attention　in　wastewater　treatment.　Herein,　a　metal-free　carbon　quantum　dots　(CQDs)　functioned　polymer　carbon　nitride　(PCN)　was　synthesized　and　used　as　an　efficient　photocatalyst　for　PMS　activation　toward　bisphenol　A　(BPA)　degradation　under　visible-light　irradiation.　The　incorporation　of　CQDs　in　PCN　endowed　it　with　enlarged　surface　area,　enhanced　light　absorption　and　improved　charge　separation,　which　were　advantageous　to　photocatalytic　activation　of　PMS.　As　a　result,　the　CQDs　functionalized　carbon　nitride　exhibited　an　enhanced　performance　in　photocatalytic　activation　of　PMS　toward　BPA　removal.　The　influencing　factors　such　as　catalyst　dosage,　PMS　concentration,　pH　value,　and　anion　additive　on　the　photocatalytic　performance　were　well　examined.　The　catalyst　exhibited　a　good　cyclic　stability.　Furthermore,　the　reactive　species　and　intermediates　involved　in　BPA　degradation　were　also　investigated　to　elucidate　the　possible　mineralization　pathway　of　BPA.　This　work　provides　a　facile　synthetic　strategy　to　prepare　metal-free　catalyst　for　photocatalytic　activation　of　PMS　in　wastewater　treatment.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.