Highly efficient and stable CuZr-based metallic glassy catalysts for azo dye degradation

Abstract

Metallic glasses with the unique disordered atomic structure and metastable nature have been recently applied to degrade the azo dyes and other organic pollutants based on their superior catalytic performance. In this work, the functional properties of six CuZr-based metallic glassy ribbons with the different nominal components in degrading Acid Orange Ⅱ (AO Ⅱ) azo dyes were investigated. The Cu47.5Zr46Al6.5 metallic glassy ribbons could exhibit the more advanced catalytic performance for degradation process, which could completely degrade azo dye aqueous solution within 30 min. Additionally, the Cu47.5Zr46Al6.5 metallic glassy ribbons also showed the excellent cyclic stability along with approximately 97.68 % degradation efficiency after 10 cycles. These excellent catalytic performance and stability are closely related to the synergistic effect of exposed copper nanoparticles and produced copper oxides in the reaction, which contributes to accelerate the generation of more hydroxyl radicals (·OH) to react with dye molecules. Our findings can be able to develop a novel potential metallic glassy material for the functional application of wastewater treatment.