Abstract: The main problem of the semiconductor photocatalyst is that the absorption of visible light and infrared light is not enough, and the conversion efficiency is low. Therefore, how to design and synthesize the photocatalyst that can absorb visible light and infrared light in the sunlight is the focus of the research in the past few decades. In this paper, we focused on the upconversion luminescence characteristics of some rare earth ions, and the catalyst synthesized by doping with high light absorption efficiency and photocatalytic performance. The paper summarized and analyzed the preparation and application of titanium, zinc, bismuth, silver, cadmium and barium based optical catalyst system used to change the traditional semiconductor photocatalyst in recent years. The research progress of the rare earth upconversion agents converting visible light and near infrared light into ultraviolet for light absorbed by the catalyst used to improve the utilization efficiency of solar energy was compared, especially in improving the contribution and mechanism of the photocatalytic activity.