A　novel　hollow　spherical　3D　structure　of　beta-SiC　with　an　open　mouth　was　successfully　fabricated　by　an　environmentally　friendly　approach　starting　from　ethylsilicate　interaction　with　the　P123　and　glucose.　The　proposed　growth　mechanism　of　SiC　hollow　spheres　was　revealed　step　by　step　with　SEM　and　XRD.　When　the　as-prepared　SiC　was　applied　for　the　photocatalytic　reduction　of　CO2　with　pure　water,　it　was　found　to　be　highly　active　for　the　conversion　CO2　into　mainly　CH4　hydrocarbon　products　due　to　its　unique　electronic　structure,　hollow　morphology　and　high　BET　surface　area.　Moreover,　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　hollow　spherical　SiC　can　be　greatly　improved　by　loading　Pt　cocatalyst.　The　optimal　2.0　wt%　Pt　loading　led　to　a　stable　CH4　evolution　as　high　as　16.8　mu　mol/g/h　(or　376.4　mu　l/g/h)　with　the　simulated　solar　light　irradiation,　which　is　higher　than　that　of　many　reported　metal　oxides　(Pt/TiO2,　CdS/WO3,　Zn2GeO4,　CeO2　and　g-C3N4/NaNbO3　et　al.)　under　similar　experimental　conditions.　This　work　provides　a　new　strategy　for　the　architecture　of　thermally　and　chemically　stable　non-metallic　carbide　with　unique　hollow　spherical　structure　to　be　a　potential　nonmetallic　photocatalyst　for　CO2　reduction　into　CH4.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.