Bi2O3-Ag2O hybrid photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a co-precipitation method. The morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of phenol were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical impedance spectra and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that Bi2O3-Ag2O hybrid photocatalysts exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance in the degradation of phenol with a maximum degradation rate of 92% for 60 min under visible light irradiation compared with pure Bi2O3 (57%), which is ascribed to the increase in light adsorption and the reduction in electron-hole pair recombination with the introduction of Ag2O. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.