Novel molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and bismuth subcarbonate (Bi2O2CO3) composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) were employed to examine the phase structure, morphology and optical properties of the synthesized samples. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by decomposing rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation. In contrast with pure Bi2O2CO3, the MoS2/Bi2O2CO3 composites showed enhanced photocatalytic properties. When Bi2O2CO3 was loaded with 0.5 wt.% MoS2, it showed the optimal photocatalytic activity. For the MoS2/Bi2O2CO3, the special structure of MoS2 increases the number of the active sites to adsorb more dye and photodegrade it on Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst, in which the synergistic effect between MoS2 and Bi2O2CO3 promoted the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.