BiVO4　microsheets　with　particle　size　of　1~2　μm　were　fabricated　by　hydrothermal　method.　Then,　Ag2CO3/BiVO4　composite　microsheet　photocatalysts　with　different　contents　of　Ag2CO3　were　synthesized　via　precipitation　method.　The　products　were　characterized　by　powder　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　Fourier　transform-infrared　(FTIR)　spectroscopy,　UV-Vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectroscopy　(DRS),　photoluminescence　(PL)　emission　spectroscopy,　transient　photocurrent-time　response.　The　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　samples　were　evaluated　by　photocatalytic　degradation　of　rhodamine　B　under　visible　light　irradiation.　The　results　showed　that　loading　of　Ag2CO3　was　beneficial　to　improve　the　specific　surface　area　and　surface　properties　of　the　catalyst.　Activity　test　indicated　that　BiVO4　loaded　with　optimal　10%(w/w)　Ag0CO3　resulted　in　4.4　times　increase　in　activity　with　respect　to　BiVO4　under　visible　light　illumination.　The　results　of　photoluminescence　(PL)　emission　spectroscopy　and　transient　photocurrent-time　response　showed　that　the　coupled　Ag2CO3　can　effectively　inhibit　the　recombination　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes.　Active　radicals　trapping　experiments　indicated　that　hole　and　hydroxyl　radicals　were　the　reactive　oxygen　species　in　this　Ag2CO3/BiVO4　system.　The　enhancement　in　activity　of　Ag2CO3/BiVO4　could　be　attributed　to　the　heterojunction　structure　formed　by　Ag2CO3　with　wider　band　gap　and　BiVO4　with　narrower　band　gap.　This　heterojunction　effectively　restrained　the　recombination　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes.　Moreover,　the　suitable　energy　band　structure　brought　about　strong　oxidation　ability　due　to　more　holes　were　produced.　©　2017,　Chinese　Chemical　Society.　All　rights　reserved.