<p>A cost-effective and high photocatalytic degradation for tetracycline novel bismuth and hollow cerium oxide composite materials (Bi/h–CeO₂) photocatalyst was prepared. Hollow cerium oxide microspheres (h–CeO₂) were prepared using the traditional templating method, and the Bi/h–CeO₂ was prepared from h–CeO₂ and bismuth nitrate pentahydrate in different molar ratios by the hydrothermal process. Based on the material morphology characterization and the photocatalytic degradation performance of the sample, the results clearly indicated that the addition of nanostructured Bi significantly improved the photocatalytic property of h–CeO₂. Additionally, the 0.01Bi/h–CeO₂ photocatalyst exhibited maximum photocatalytic activity and the degradation efficiency can attain 90.2% after 30&#xa0;min of irradiation. A potential mechanism has been suggested for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) using Bi/h–CeO₂ under visible light.</p>