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Biochar Bridging Carbon Nitride and Rare Earth Metal Oxide for Boosting Microstructural Characteristics and Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity
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Biochar Bridging Carbon Nitride and Rare Earth Metal Oxide for Boosting Microstructural Characteristics and Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity

Kingsley Igenepo John, Touma B. Issa, Goen Ho, Aleksandar N. Nikoloski and Dan Li
Advanced energy and sustainability research, Vol.7(7), e70225
2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70225
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Open Access CC BY V4.0

Abstract

This study adopted biochar (BC), an eco‐friendly modifier, to integrate with g‐C 3 N 4 and a rare‐earth metal oxide to form a novel ternary composite with enhanced photocatalytic activity. g‐C 3 N 4 /BC( x %)/LaO ( x = 0.03%–0.5%) was synthesized via thermal treatment of a solid mixture which consisted of g‐C 3 N 4 , BC and La(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O·g‐C 3 N 4 /BC(0.2%)/LaO showed the rate constant k of 0.0398 min −1 under optimum conditions. This was ∼44, 31, and 4 times the k of LaO, BC, and g‐C 3 N 4 . It was also at least 2 times that of LaO‐modified g‐C 3 N 4 (g‐C 3 N 4 /LaO) and BC‐modified g‐C 3 N 4 (g‐C 3 N 4 /BC(0.2%)), in the visible‐light photocatalysis of methyl orange (MO). The outstanding performance of the g‐C 3 N 4 /BC(0.2%)/LaO heterostructure was attributed to its improved microstructural characteristics, as well as photo absorption, charge separation, and transfer, which were boosted by the bridging role of BC between g‐C 3 N 4 and LaO. The primary radical associated with the reaction using g‐C 3 N 4 /BC(0.2%)/LaO was identified as superoxide. It demonstrated excellent reusability and structural and chemical stability after the fifth reaction cycle. Our findings demonstrated the use of biochar derived from pine wood waste as a promising modifier, enhancing the performance of g‐C 3 N 4 heterostructures in photocatalysis for pollutant removal, thereby contributing to a circular strategy through advanced oxidation and waste valorization.

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