A　two-step　method　to　synthesize　metal-semiconductor　heterostructure　photocatalyst　is　presented　in　this　research.　Based　on　the　tetrapod-like　zinc　oxide　(T-ZnO)　deposited　by　thermal　evaporation,　Ag/T-ZnO　heterostructure　is　synthesized　by　RF　magnetron　sputtering　method　in　this　two-step　preparation　technique.　The　structure　and　the　photocatalytic　properties　of　the　Ag/T-ZnO　were　studied　in　detail.　The　A-g/T-ZnO　heterostructure　exhibits　better　photocatalytic　activity　than　that　of　the　pure　T-ZnO　and　there　is　an　optimum　sputtering　time　and　sputtering　power　for　the　heterostructure＇s　photocatalytic　activity.　The　essential　photocatalytic　mechanism　of　this　heterostructure　have　been　discussed　and　the　enhanced　photocatalytic　activity　indicates　the　feasibility　of　this　novel　two-step　method　which　may　be　developed　to　a　promising　synthesis　technique.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.