Herein, silver (Ag)-based urchin-like E-graphite carbon nitride/titanium dioxide (E-g-C₃N_4/TiO₂) ternary composite was successfully synthesised via hydrothermal process and it showed excellent photocatalytic activity. The large interfacial contact between three-dimensional (3D) urchin-like TiO₂ (UT) and g-C₃N₄ leads to high photocatalytic activity, compared with pure 3D UT. To enlarge the response of light and enhance the charge carriers’ transfer, the Ag nanoparticles with average sizes of 13 nm were loaded on the surface of g-C₃N₄/TiO₂. Photodegradation test results of RhB shown that the 3% Ag-based urchin-like E-g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ composite has the highest catalytic activity, which reaches 97.98%. Thus, the material has a promising application for the degradation of organics.

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Highly photoactive Ag-based urchin-like E-g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ ternary composite photocatalyst

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Highly photoactive Ag-based urchin-like E-g-C3N4/TiO2 ternary composite photocatalyst

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Highly photoactive Ag-based urchin-like E-g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ ternary composite photocatalyst