Z-scheme　heterojunction　photocatalysts　are　generally　known　for　their　enhanced　capabilities　in　charge　separation,　which　contribute　to　improved　photocatalytic　efficiency.　Tetracycline　(TC),　a　prevalent　contaminant　in　water,　was　degraded　using　a　stable　and　efficient　Z-scheme　heterojunction　photocatalyst　(In2O3/TiO2-calcine)　obtained　by　a　combination　of　hydrothermal　and　calcination　techniques.　With　a　photodegradation　efficiency　of　more　than　97　%　in　60　min,　In2O3/TiO2-calcine　demonstrated　exceptional　catalytic　activity　and　stability　in　the　degradation　of　TC.　In2O3/TiO2-calcine　showed　not　only　good　electron-hole　separation　efficiency　but　also　good　photoresponse.　The　main　active　species　in　the　photocatalytic　degradation　of　TC　by　In2O3/TiO2-calcine　were　identified　as　h+,　1O2　and　·O2-.　h+　did　not　directly　interact　with　the　pollutant　but　influenced　its　degradation　by　facilitating　the　generation　of　1O2　and　·O2-.　The　mechanism　of　the　action　of　the　Z-scheme　heterojunction　was　explored　in　depth　from　various　aspects　such　as　energy　band　structure　and　electron　transfer　paths.　The　degradation　pathways　and　intermediate　products　of　TC　were　investigated　in　this　system,　revealing　that　the　toxicity　of　the　intermediate　products　was　generally　reduced.　This　study　offers　new　perspectives　on　Z-scheme　heterojunction　photocatalyst　design　and　optimization.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.