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, g-C₃N₄/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 g-C₃N₄/Ag-TiO₂ catalyst retained excellent stability even after five recycles.