Hydroxylation　of　benzene　to　phenol　over　a　photocatalyst　is　a　green　approach　toward　phenol　production.　ZnFe2O4　(ZFO)　with　an　intrinsic　peroxidase-like　catalytic　behavior　toward　H2O2　activation　is　an　emerging　photocatalyst　for　benzene　hydroxylation　reaction;　however,　its　catalytic　performance　is　greatly　limited　by　the　fast　charge　recombination,　inevitable　metal　leaching　and　hydrophilic　surface　structure.　Herein,　the　encapsulation　of　ZFO　by　carbons　(ZFO@C)　is　an　effective　solution　to　address　these　issues.　The　carbons　conformably　coating　on　ZFO　not　only　protect　them　from　corrosion　and　metal　leaching,　but　also　enable　the　generation　of　a　strong　electronic　contact　between　them　to　facilitate　charge　separation.　In　addition,　the　carbons　also　increase　the　surface　affinity　for　benzene　adsorption.　As　a　result,　ZFO@C　exhibited　a　significant　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　and　durability　for　phenol　synthesis.　Furthermore,　ZFO@C　with　carbon　derived　unique　functionalities　will　have　a　broad　application　in　photocatalytic　green　synthesis　of　fine　chemicals.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.