This work provides an immediate fabrication approach for a manganese dioxide/graphite (MnO2/C) composite, as a photocatalyst for the degradation of glyphosate, via high energy electron beam irradiation. Such irradiation can effectively and facilely reduce MnO4- to MnO2 nanospheres through the reduction effects of e(-), e(aq)(-), and H-center dot, as well as make graphite possess rough surface through thermal and sputtering effects of electron beam. In addition, the fabrication process introduces numerous hydroxyl groups on the surface of MnO2 nanospheres, which can promote the adhesion of MnO2 nanospheres onto the rough surface of graphite via hydrogen bonds. The resulting MnO2/C composite exhibits a large specific surface area, high dispersion, and thus an excellent adsorption and catalytic degradation performance on glyphosate. Importantly, the MnO2/C composite is rather sensitive to sunlight, and can effectively degrade glyphosate under sunlight. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.