The urchin-like copper cobaltite (CuCo2O4) architecture was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The scanning electron microscopy images, X-ray diffraction pattern and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that the formation of urchin-like cubic spinel CuCo2O4 nanostructure. The urchin shaped CuCo2O4 nanostructure with bundles of nanorods exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity under stimulated solar light illumination in the degradation of methyl orange dye solution. Besides, the electrochemical measurement was performed to evaluate the photodegradation efficiency of CuCo2O4 nanostructure. These promising results initiate a step towards environmental applications in the removal of organic pollutants from waste water. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.