Heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag–TiO2 composites with efficient photocatalytic performance under visible-light irradiation

g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 composites with close interfacial contact among Ag, TiO2 and g-C3N4 were facilely fabricated and thoroughly characterized. As the deposited Ag nanoparticles played important roles as an electron-conduction bridge and in the surface plasmon resonance effect, Ag modification feasibly improved the separation efficiency for photoinduced electron-hole pairs and enhanced visible-light response. Furthermore, due to the further enhanced separation for photogenerated charges resulting from the existing build-in electric field of the heterojunction and the superposed light response from the hybridization of TiO2 and g-C3N4, gC(3)N(4)/Ag-TiO2 composites exhibited remarkably improved photocatalytic activities for degrading rhodamine B dye compared with pristine TiO2 and g-C3N4 and single-component modified photocatalysts. Additionally, the gC(3)N(4)/Ag-TiO2 catalyst retained excellent stability even after five recycles.