An efficient CuZr-based metallic glasses electrode material for electrocatalytic degradation of azo dyes.

• Cu-based MGs as electrodes for dye degradation exhibit high catalytic performance. • The degradation efficiency is 96% within 40 min using Cu 55 Zr 45 MG electrodes. • The Cu 55 Zr 45 MG electrodes can degrade the dye solution with different pH values. • Electrochemical action tends to the generation of the active substances. Metallic glasses have received a lot of attention on wastewater treatment due to their unique atomic structure, and the use of metallic glasses as electrodes has produced unexpected electrocatalytic degradation effects for many pollutants through combining with electrochemical technology. However, it still is a formidable challenge to find a metallic glass electrode material with both efficient and clean for the catalytic degradation of pollutants. In this work, the Cu 55 Zr 45 metallic glassy ribbons are used as an electrode to degrade azo dyes and show the excellent degradation effect, which can reach 95.6% within 40 min. In the degradation process, almost no additives are produced and Cu 55 Zr 45 metallic glassy ribbons have excellent effects under different pH conditions. Meanwhile, it exhibits good stability for degradation efficiency during the 8 cycle degradation tests of the amorphous alloy electrode. When the copper nanoparticles are exposed on the surface of the ribbons, the oxidized copper obtained synergistically produce activated radicals is the primary degradation mechanism, where the auxiliary degradation mechanisms include electron transfer and the promotion of active chlorine. This research develops a new type of electrode material for wastewater treatment, and the economy and high efficiency of Cu 55 Zr 45 metallic glass endow it the expandable functional applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]