Strengthening mechanism of electrocatalytic properties of high activity Fe-based amorphous alloys by low escape work nanocrystals

Amorphous alloy is a popular choice for wastewater treatment because of its high active sites and high catalytic performance. It is different from the previous situation that the degradation performance of amorphous materials decreases first and then increases after crystallization. The degradation efficiency of Direct Yellow GR dye (DYGR) by Electro-Fenton (E-F) is gradually increases as the amorphous content of Fe41Co7Cr15Mo14C15B6Y2 amorphous alloy powder (MGs) is reduced in this work. The in-situ precipitation of (Fe, Cr)23(C, B)6 and Fe7C3 nanocrystals was discovered to decrease the electron work function (EWF) of the alloy powder, thus decreasing the amount of work needed to escape electrons and enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of the material. At the same time, the precipitation of (Fe, Cr)23(C, B)6 nanocrystals changed the chemical composition of the surface of MGs. After annealing, the Fe2+ concentration was higher than before regression, and the chemical potential energy between Fe2+ and Fe3+ was greater, thus facilitating the formation of ∙OH. This research offers novel perspectives on the utilization of nanocrystals in the management of amorphous alloy wastewater.