Bi2WO6　microspheres　with　a　diameter　of　1.5-2　mu　m　were　prepared　by　a　hydrothermal　method,　and　then　coated　with　different　contents　of　AgCl　to　form　heterostructured　AgCl/Bi2WO6　microspheres.　The　prepared　Bi2WO6　and　AgCl/Bi2WO6　photocatalysts　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　N-2　physical　adsorption,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy,　and　ultraviolet-visible　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　catalysts　was　evaluated　by　photocatalytic　degradation　of　rhodamine　B　under　ultraviolet　and　visible　light　irradiation.　Results　showed　that　the　deposition　of　AgCl　had　no　obvious　effect　on　the　light　absorption　and　surface　properties　of　Bi2WO6.　However,　the　heterostructured　AgCl/Bi2WO6　photocatalysts　exhibited　considerably　higher　activity　than　the　pure　AgCl　and　Bi2WO6　catalysts.　With　the　optimal　AgCl　content　of　20　wt%,　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　heterostructured　AgCl/Bi2WO6　catalyst　was　increased　under　both　ultraviolet　and　visible　light　compared　with　that　of　Bi2WO6.　The　main　reason　for　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　is　attributed　to　the　formation　of　AgCl/Bi2WO6　heterostructures　effectively　suppressing　the　recombination　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes.　(C)　2015,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.