Heterogeneously structured FeCuBP amorphous–nanocrystalline alloy with excellent dye degradation efficiency

Fe-based amorphous alloys have drawn wide attention in dye degradation due to the superior properties and adjustable compositions. As a new component of Fenton-like catalyst, Fe80Cu4B14P2 amorphous alloy with few nanocrystals has been prepared by melt spinning method without additional process for the first time in this paper. Furthermore, Fe80Cu4B14P2 amorphous–nanocrystalline alloy shows the better degradation performance than fully amorphous and crystalline counterparts, which is originated from structural and chemical inhomogeneities in nanoscale. Two distinct types of galvanic cells are formed between copper-rich nanocrystals and amorphous matrix, iron-rich and iron-poor regions, respectively, accelerating the transfer of electrons and the production of ·OH radicals in Fenton-like system. Besides, the formation of special three-dimensional (3D) network structures on ribbon during degradation is also an important reason for the high degradation efficiency. This work not only proposes novel and promising FeCuBP amorphous–nanocrystalline alloy as catalyst in the wastewater treatment field, but also provides a new perspective on heterogeneous materials designing and fabricating.