Zn/Fe layered double hydroxides with different intercalated anions (nitrate, chloride and carbonate) as visible-light response photocatalysts were fabricated by co-precipitation method. The as-prepared LDH photocatalysts were characterized by Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Thermo Gravimetric/Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA). BET surface area, SEM, TEM and simultaneously optical absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was studied by degradation of aqueous methyl violet (MV) and malachite green (MG) under solar light. Under optimal conditions, among various anions intercalated samples carbonate intercalated Zn/Fe LDH exhibited highest activity. The kinetics and mechanism of photocatalytic dye degradation over Zn/Fe-CO3 LDH were also discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.