Facile synthesis of zinc–iron mixed oxide/carbon nanocomposites as nanocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue

• Zinc–iron mixed oxide/carbon nanocomposites.
• Pyrolysis of ferrocenium, zinc acetate, and glucose.
• Photocatalytic property over methylene blue under light irradiation.

Zinc–iron mixed oxide/carbon nanocomposites were synthesized by the pyrolysis of ferrocenium, zinc acetate, and glucose without the assistance of template or surfactant. The as-prepared zinc–iron mixed oxide/carbon nanocomposites exhibited good photocatalytic property over methylene blue under UV light.