This　paper　reports　the　synthesis　of　MgO-based　nanosheets　loaded　with　UV-light　absorbed,　wurtzite　ZnxMg1-xO　nanoparticles　based　on　calcining　Zn2+-adsorbed　Mg(OH)(2)　precursor,　as　evidenced　by　X-ray　diffraction,　UV-visible,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　analyses,　etc.　The　surface　modification　of　magnesium　oxide　(MgO)　sheet-like　adsorbents　by　Zn-Mg-O　alloys　generates　photocatalytic　activity　for　the　degradation　removal　of　cationic　dye　Rhodamine　B　and　anionic　dye　methyl　orange　under　UV　light　irradiation.　These　findings　provide　a　route　to　chemically　controlled　synthesis　of　new　and　highly　robust　MgO-ZnxMg1-xO　materials　for　water　purification.　The　endowed　photocatalysis　function　of　MgO　makes　it　be　easily　recovered　via　photodegradation　of　adsorbed　dyes　rather　than　high-temperature　calcination,　thus　extending　the　applications　of　MgO　in　dye　wastewater　treatment.