Cu/tetrapod-like ZnO whisker(T-ZnOw) compounds were successfully synthesized using N_2H_4 ·H_2O as a reducing agent by a simple reduction method without any insert gas at room temperature. The crystal phase composition and morphology of the as-prepared samples were investigated by XRD, SEM and FESEM tests. The photocatalytic property of the as-prepared samples was detected by the degradation of methyl orange(MO) aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It can be found that Cu nanoparticles(CuNPs) dispersed on the surface of T-ZnOw increased with the increasing of Cu/Zn molar ratios(Cu/Zn MRs), and an octahedral structure of CuNPs was obtained when the sample was prepared with less than and equal to 7.30% Cu/Zn MR, but tended to a spherical or nanorod structure of CuNPs densely arranged on the surface of T-ZnOw, which is prepared by Cu/Zn MRs up to 22.00%. All the compounds exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in decomposing of MO than T-Zn Ow, the photocatalytic property of the samples increased with the increasing of Cu/Zn MRs up to 7.30%, while it decreases when further increasing the Cu/Zn MRs. The Schottky barrier of the Cu/T-ZnOw compound can effectively capture photoinduced electrons from the interface and enhanced the photocatalytic property of T-ZnOw. Cu / tetrapod-like ZnO whisker (T-ZnOw) compounds were successfully synthesized using N_2H_4 · H_2O as a reducing agent by a simple reduction method without any insert gas at room temperature. The crystal phase composition and morphology of the as-prepared samples were investigated by XRD, SEM and FESEM tests. The photocatalytic property of the as-prepared samples was detected by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution under UV irradiation. It can be found that Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) dispersed on the surface of T-ZnO w increased with the increase of Cu / Zn MRs, and an octahedral structure of CuNPs was obtained when the sample was prepared with less than and equal to 7.30% Cu / Zn MR, but tended to a spherical or nanorod structure of CuNPs densely arranged on the surface of T-ZnOw, which is prepared by Cu / Zn MRs up to 22.00%. All the compounds show excellent photocatalytic activity in decomposing of MO than T-Zn Ow, the photocatalytic property of the s The Schottky barrier of the Cu / Zn-MRs can effectively capture photoinduced electrons from the interface and enhanced the photocatalytic property of T-ZnOw.