ZnO　nanorod　arrays　were　used　to　oxidize　rhodamine　B　(RhB)　and　reduce　Ag+　ions　simultaneously　under　UV　or　visible　light.　The　photocatalytic　kinetics　of　RhB　degradation　followed　a　pseudo-first　order　with　two　steps,　and　during　the　synergistic　photocatalysis　process,　Ag/ZnO　heterostructural　nanocomposites　were　generated　in　situ　based　on　ZnO　nanorod　arrays.　The　Ag/ZnO　heterostructure　arrays　were　composed　of　Ag　nanosheets　with　(111)　plane　on　the　basis　of　ZnO　nanorods.　The　growth　process　of　Ag　nanosheets　experienced　a　similar　two-stage　manner　as　the　degradation　kinetics　of　RhB,　indicating　that　the　change　in　apparent　rate　constants　for　RhB　degradation　was　ascribed　to　the　variation　of　photoinduced　electrons　and　holes.　The　microstructure,　composition,　chemical　states,　and　UV-visible　light　adsorption　of　reclaimed　Ag/ZnO　heterostructure　arrays　were　investigated;　their　multifunctional　applications　on　surface　enhanced　Raman　scattering　and　photocatalytic　activity　under　UV　or　simulated　solar　light　were　also　discussed.　(C)　2018　Taiwan　Institute　of　Chemical　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.