Enhancing Dy2O3/g-C3N4 visible photocatalytic hydrogen production performance by loading graphene-like carbon from Enteromorpha prolifera (EP-GL)

Using Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) as a raw material, biomass graphene-like carbon (EP-GL) can be prepared and used as a cocatalyst to modify semiconductor photocatalytic materials, which contributes to achieving a sustainable development strategy. In this study, graphene-like carbon was successfully obtained from EP biomass through high-temperature pyrolysis. It was then used to modify a Dy2O3/g-C3N4 semiconductor composite photocatalyst using a simple microwave hydrothermal method. The incorporation of EP-GL not only acted as a transfer channel for photogenerated electrons and enhanced the separation of photogenerated carriers, but also significantly increased the specific surface area of the catalyst, providing more active sites for photocatalytic reactions. Additionally, the heterojunction formed between Dy2O3/g-C3N4 aided in the separation of electron-hole pairs, further improving the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production. The composite catalyst achieved a hydrogen generation rate of 683.16 μmol⋅g−1⋅h−1 in ethylene glycol solution and 723.57 μmol⋅g−1⋅h−1 in glucose solution. These rates were 3.84 and 3.56 times greater than those of Dy2O3 alone, respectively. This demonstrated the superior performance of the ternary composite photocatalyst in harnessing visible light for efficient hydrogen production.