To　utilize　-OH　on　the　inert　hydroxides,　a　layer　of　photoactive　SnOx　was　epitaxially　grafted　on　MgSn(OH)6　(MgHS)　by　controlling　the　hydrothermal　solution　at　ca.　pH　4.　SnOx　shows　a　strong　interaction　with　MgHS　and　acts　as　photoactive　sites　to　provide　photoinduced　electrons　(e−)　and　holes　(h+),　while　the　host　provides　a　hydroxyl-rich　surface　to　strengthen　and　sustain　∙OH-mediated　degradation　process.　Furthermore,　both　the　transferring　of　photoinduced　h+　from　SnOx　to　MgHS　and　the　adsorption　of　benzene　(C6H6)　on　MgHS　were　promoted　by　SnOx.　The　synergistic　effect　between　SnOx　and　MgHS　is　responsible　for　the　high　and　stable　performance　for　abating　bisphenol　A　solution　and　gaseous　C6H6　exhaust.　∙OH　and　protonated　O2[rad]−　are　the　main　active　species.　This　work　demonstrated　that　the　epitaxial-grafting　of　photoactive　metal　oxides　on　a　host　hydroxide　photocatalyst　is　a　promising　strategy　to　boost　the　photocatalytic　performance　of　inert　hydroxide　photocatalysts　for　environmental　remediation.　©　2023　Elsevier　Inc.