This study aimed to investigate the contribution of carbothermal reduction to the overall thermal decomposition process of different Ag2CO3 samples in Ag2CO3-graphite mixtures and the possible formation of Ag2O-Ag and Ag2CO3-Ag core-shell structures as intermediate compounds. Distinguishable contribution of the carbothermal reduction process was observed during the second mass loss process of the thermal decomposition. The second mass loss process was characterized by two partially overlapping reaction steps: (i) the carbothermal reduction of surface Ag2O; and (ii) subsequent thermal decomposition of bulk Ag2O or Ag2CO3. The overlapping features of the carbothermal reduction and thermal decomposition processes were analyzed via the kinetic deconvolution analysis. The present results provide us with fundamental information for preparing possible functional Ag compound materials with Ag2O-Ag and Ag2CO3-Ag core-shell structures in a controlled manner during the thermal decomposition of Ag2CO3. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.