Cerium-based　metal-organic　frameworks　(Ce-MOFs)　are　emerging　as　hierarchical　photocatalysts　with　tunable　electronic　structures,　demonstrating　significant　potential　for　tetracycline　(TC)　degradation.　In　this　work,　mixed-valence　cerium　metal-organic　framework　(MVCM)　was　synthesized　by　a　one-step　partial　oxidation　strategy.　Various　characterization　techniques　were　systematically　employed　to　investigate　the　morphology,　structure　and　optical　properties　of　MVCM.　It　was　found　that　multivalent　regulation　could　enhance　the　visible　light　response　and　inhibit　the　recombination　of　photoinduced　charges,　thus　overcoming　the　drawback　of　conventional　Ce-MOF.　When　tetracycline　was　used　as　the　target　pollutant,　the　degradation　rate　of　MVCM-1.0　reached　95　%　after　80　min　of　illumination,　which　was　ninefold　higher　than　that　of　the　pristine　Ce-MOF.　Moreover,　the　MVCM-1.0　exhibite　excellent　stability　and　recyclability.　The　degradation　mechanism　was　analyzed　through　various　approaches,　including　active　species　trapping　experiments,　electron　paramagnetic　resonance　measurements,　and　relevant　electrochemical　analyses.　In　addition,　the　main　degradation　products　and　the　possible　decomposition　routes　of　TC　were　inferred　by　combining　liquid　chromatography-mass　spectrometry　(LC-MS).　This　work　deepens　the　understanding　of　the　internal　relationship　between　the　structure　and　performance　of　photocatalysts.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.