Nanoarchitectonics of Ag-modified g-C3N4@halloysite nanotubes by a green method for enhanced photocatalytic efficiency

•Ag-g-C3N4@HNTs nanocomposite with uniform Ag-NPs was synthesized by a green synthesis process.•Visible-light photocatalytic activity of TC by Ag-g-C3N4@HNTs nanocomposite was significantly improved.•Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite can be due to silver surface plasmon resonance of Ag-NPs and multi-layer hollow nanotubes.