Ag　nanoparticles　loaded　CdMoO4　photocatalysts　were　prepared　via　a　hydrothermal　process　followed　by　the　sodium　borohydride　reduction　method.　The　composition　and　structure　of　the　catalysts　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　techniques.　The　photo-response　and　surface　state　of　the　catalysts　were　investigated　by　UV-Vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(UV-Vis　DRS)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　The　effect　of　the　loaded　amount　of　Ag　nanoparticles　on　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　CdMoO4　photocatalyst　for　the　degradation　of　rhodamine　B　(RhB)　under　UV　light　and　the　selective　oxidation　of　benzyl　alcohol　under　visible　light　were　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　composite　photocatalysts　exhibited　significantly　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　compared　to　pure　CdMoO4.　The　mechanism　was　studied　by　employing　chemical　scavengers　technology,　which　indicated　that　02_•　and　•OH　are　the　main　species　in　the　photocatalytic　process.　©　2017,　Chinese　Chemical　Society.　All　rights　reserved.