Oxovanadium-graphitic carbon nitride thin nanosheet (VO@g?C3N4-T) had been prepared using urea and vanadium(IV)oxy acetylacetonate as precursors, compared with graphite nitride carbon (g?C3N4), oxovanadium-supported graphite nitride carbon (VO/g?C3N4).The structure and textural properties of the materials were thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopeenergy(SEM), dispersive spectroscopy (EDS),inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The photocatalytic performances of the samples were tested in the hydroxylation of benzene to produce phenol under visible light. The results showed that VO@g?C3N4-T possesses high specific surface area, the shape of nanosheets and favorable bandgap, lead to a very good photocatalytic activity for the hydroxylation of benzene via C?H activation under visible light. 98.4% conversion of phenol was obtained with the selectivity to phenol as high as 91.1%. There was the strong interaction between the graphitic carbon nitride surface and vanadium metal, which minimizes vanadium leaching. The catalyst also exhibited good reusability and was reused five times without a significant decrease in conversion and selectivity.