The work aims to improve the photocatalytic and ethylene elimination effects of nano TiO2 under visible light. FeCl3.6H2O and TiF4 were used as raw materials to prepare a nano-composite material α-Fe2O3@TiO2 with α-Fe2O3 as the core and TiO2 as the shell by hydrothermal synthesis method. The photocatalytic performance and ethylene removal performance of the material were studied through chemical characterization means such as XRD, UV-vis DRS, EPR and ethylene removal experiments, etc. The prepared α-Fe2O3 particles exhibited a stable rod-like structure, with particle length ranging from 100 to 200 nm and width between 50 and 100 nm. The TiO2 particles exhibited hollow spheres with the diameter from 100 to 200 nm. The bandgap width of the α-Fe2O3@TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles was decreased to 1.91 eV, and the electron signal intensities of DMPO-.O2− and DMPO-.OH increased. The α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanoparticle core-shell spheres demonstrate excellent photocatalytic performance and ethylene removal abilities, making them potential to be applied in fruit and vegetable preservation. In addition, the material is expected to own the functions of sterilization, oxidative decomposition of organic matter, and odor removal, which can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.