Herein,　solar-driven　GQDs　loaded　BiVO4　heterostructure　catalysts　were　fabricated　and　employed　to　degradate　carbamazepine　(CBZ)　under　simulated　solar　light.　The　as-prepared　ternary　catalysts　(GQD/m-BiVO4/t-BiVO4)　were　thoroughly　characterized　by　TEM,　HRTEM,　XRD,　XPS,　UV-vis,　Raman　and　PL.　The　characterization　results　demonstrated　that　GQDs　are　well-dispersed　on　binary　BiVO4　support,　and　the　optical　properties　of　the　composites　are　improved　with　GQDs　loaded.　The　photocatalytic　activities　of　the　novel　composite　catalysts　were　significantly　increased　by　incorporation　of　GQDs　on　original　BiVO4　semiconductor.　In　particular,　the　1.0　wt%　GQD　loaded　catalysts　exhibited　the　highest　photocatalytic　activity　for　CBZ,　and　the　mineralization　degree　of　CBZ　with　the　catalysts　could　achieve　more　than　95%.　In　addition,　the　transformation　products　(TPs)　of　CBZ　during　the　catalysis　processes　were　tentatively　identified,　and　hydroxyl　radicals　were　regarded　as　the　predominant　active　species.　From　the　results　of　density　functional　theory　(DFT)　calculations　and　evolution　of　TPs,　hydroxylation　and　cleavage　of　amide　group　on　the　heterocycle　may　be　the　main　initial　photocatalytic　degradation　channels　for　CBZ　under　the　catalysis　of　GQD/BiVO4.　(C)　2016　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.