M/Ag3PO4　(M　=　Pt,　Pd,　Au)　Schottky-type　heterostructures　were　successfully　fabricated　by　a　chemical　deposition　route　using　NaBH4　as　a　reduction　agent.　The　structure　and　optical　properties　of　the　as-synthesized　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　transmission　electron　microscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy,　and　electrochemical　techniques.　The　photocatalytic　activity　was　evaluated　by　the　decomposition　of　dyes　(methyl　orange,　methylene　blue,　and　rhodamine　B)　under　visible　light　irradiation　(λ　＞　420　nm).　These　noble　metals　as　nanoparticles　were　highly　dispersed　on　the　surface　of　Ag3PO　4　polyhedrons.　The　light　absorption　of　Ag3PO4　in　both　the　UV　and　visible　regions　was　extensively　increased　upon　noble　metal　deposition.　The　photocurrent　response　over　M/Ag3PO4　electrodes　was　much　higher　than　that　of　pure　Ag3PO4　and　followed　the　decreased　order　of　Pt　＞　Pd　＞　Au.　The　metallic　nanoparticles　deposited　on　Ag3PO4　could　promote　the　transfer　of　photo-generated　electrons,　which　not　only　inhibited　the　recombination　of　electrons　and　holes　effectively,　but　also　suppressed　the　photocorrosion　of　Ag3PO4,　leading　to　a　significant　increase　in　photocatalytic　activity　and　stability.　On　the　basis　of　radical-trapping　experiments　and　the　PL　technique,　h+　and　.O　2-　were　well-established　to　correspond　to　the　quick　photo-degradation　of　dyes　and　a　possible　mechanism　was　proposed.　©　the　Partner　Organisations　2014.