Photocatalytic removal of phenol, rhodamine B, and methyl orange was studied using the photocatalyst ZnO/poly-(fluorene-co-thiophene) (PFT) under visible light. After 2 h irradiation with three 1 W LED (light-emitting diode) lights, about 40% removal of both phenol and methyl orange was achieved; rhodamine B was completely degraded to rhodamine. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed that the absorbance range of PFr/ZnO was expanded from 387 run (ZnO) to about 500 nm. Photoluminescent spectra and photoluminescent quantum efficiency indicated that electrons were transferred from PFT to the conduction band of ZnO. Electron spin resonance (ESR) signals of spin-trapped paramagnetic species with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) evidenced that the OH center dot radicals were indeed formed in the PFr/ZnO system under visible light irradiation. A working mechanism involving excitation of PFT, followed by charge injection into the ZnO conduction band is proposed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.