Ag/CuO composite nanopowder was successfully prepared using metal copper, silver carbonate, ammonia, and ammonium bicarbonate as starting materials via coordination oxidation homogeneous precipitation method. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectra (FT-IR) were used to characterize the microstructure and morphology of the products. Furthermore, catalytic activities of the products to H2O2 decomposition were investigated. The results show that the obtained Ag/CuO nano-composites possess high catalytic activity to H2O2 decomposition. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.