Membrane　distillation　(MD),　boasting　high　interception　efficiency　and　low　operational　pressures,　emerges　as　an　innovative　membrane　technology.　However,　the　occurrence　of　membrane　fouling　due　to　interaction　between　natural　organic　matter　(NOM)　and　inorganic　ions　during　the　MD　process　curtails　water　purification　efficiency,　thereby　constraining　its　potential　applications.　To　address　this　quandary,　this　study　integrates　sulfate　radical-based　advanced　oxidation　processes　(SR-AOPs)　into　MD　technology　to　bolster　membrane　fouling　control.　A　straightforward　hydrothermal　method　coupled　with　vacuum　filtration　was　employed　to　synthesize　a　Co3O4/Nitrogen-modified　carbon　quantum　dots　(NCDs)/PVDF　(CN-PVDF)　membrane　for　the　first　time,　which　was　utilized　in　the　MD　treatment　of　simulated　humic　acid　(HA)　wastewater.　Under　visible　light　irradiation　(1.9　kW/m2),　CN-PVDF　membrane　activation　of　peroxymonosulfate　(PMS)　effectively　altered　the　chemical　attributes　of　the　MD　feed　solution　and　reduced　organic　matter　concentration.　Moreover,　it　dismantled　the　carboxyl　sites　on　HA　that　interact　with　Ca2+,　consequently　attenuating　the　formation　of　organic–inorganic　complex　pollutants.　The　XDLVO　analysis　showcased　that　photo-Fenton　oxidation　led　to　a　diminishment　in　pollutant　hydrophobicity,　correlating　with　a　17.59　kT　reduction　in　pollutant-membrane　adsorption　and　a　7.47　kT　amplification　in　adhesion　barriers.　This　strategy　transformed　the　initial　two-stage　fouling　mode　into　a　singular　one,　which　significantly　decreased　the　flux　decline　and　the　fouling　layer　thickness.　Furthermore,　the　CN-PVDF　membrane　demonstrated　self-cleaning　capabilities　via　photo-Fenton.　This　study　advances　an　innovative　approach　to　bolster　the　fouling　resistance　of　MD　membranes　and　provides　substantial　theoretical　support　for　the　integration　of　SR-AOPs　and　MD　technologies.　©　2024