Abstract: To solve easy photocorrosion of Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S, palygorskite (PGS) supported Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe layered double hydroxides (LDH) composites (PGS-Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe LDH) were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method. The aim is to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers using Zn-Fe LDH and PGS. Its crystal phase, micromorphology and optical properties were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis DRS and PL. The electron microscope images show that the needle-like PGS and graininess Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S are attached on the surface of Zn-Fe LDH. UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopies confirm that the PGS-Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe LDH has a wider absorption range than Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S. That absorption range has a red shift from 560 nm to 605 nm. The photocatalytic activity of PGS-Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe LDH is higher than those of Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S and Zn-Fe LDH in the degradation of crystal violet. The photocatalyst with mass ratio of PGS to Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe LDH of 50%, the removal rate of 20 mg/L crystal violet is 97.5% by 20 mg of PGS-Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S/Zn-Fe LDH for 60 min. \text•\rmO_2^- and •OH groups are the main active species in photodegradatlon reaction. The photocatalytic activity of composite is well retained after five cycles. Meanwhile, the composite shows good photocatalytic activity in the degradations of various dyes including malachite green (MG), acid fuchsin (AF), Rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB).