A　series　of　novel　AgCl/Ag2CO3heterostructured　photocatalysts　with　different　AgCl　contents　(5 wt%,　10 wt%,　20 wt%,　and　30 wt%)　were　prepared　by　facile　coprecipitation　method　at　room　temperature.　The　resulting　products　were　characterized　by　powder　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS),　and　ultraviolet–visible　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(UV–Vis　DRS),　respectively.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　samples　was　evaluated　by　photocatalytic　degradation　of　methyl　orange　(MO)　under　UV　light　irradiation.　With　the　optimal　AgCl　content　of　20 wt%,　the　AgCl/Ag2CO3composite　exhibits　the　greatest　enhancement　in　photocatalytic　degradation　efficiency.　Its　first-order　reaction　rate　constant　(0.67 h−1)　is　5.2　times　faster　than　that　of　Ag2CO3(0.13 h−1),　and　16.8　times　faster　than　that　of　AgCl　(0.04 h−1).　The　formation　of　AgCl/Ag2CO3heterostructure　could　effectively　suppress　the　recombination　of　the　photo-generated　electron　and　hole,　resulting　in　an　increase　in　photocatalytic　activity.　©　2015,　The　Nonferrous　Metals　Society　of　China　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.