Remarkably enhanced Fenton-like catalytic activity and recyclability of Fe-based metallic glass by alternating magnetic field: mechanisms and industrial applications

Abstract

Fenton-like processes by heterogeneous catalysts present a promising strategy for the ever-growing water pollution problems. However, developing low-cost catalysts with sustainability in both high catalytic efficiency and good recyclability remains challenging. Herein, we report a new strategy by applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to an Fe-based metallic glass (MG) catalyst in degrading wastewater, which shows great success in enhancing catalytic efficiency and recyclability. The degradation rate under the AMF was found to be superior to that of most state-of-the-art Fenton-like catalysts. Importantly, the recyclability of the MG catalyst under the AMF reached a record value of 100 times, which is the highest value reported thus far. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the enhancement in catalytic efficiency under an AMF is attributed to accelerated charge transfer owing to the Kelvin force, which facilitates H₂O₂ decomposition and the generation of more reactive oxygen species. In addition, the Lorentz force and high-frequency vibration created by the alternating magnetic field is conducive to releasing O₂ bubbles, promotes Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ cycling and the formation of a sustainably active surface enriched with Fe(II) species, yielding impressive recyclability. This work provides a new paradigm for guiding the reaction kinetics of ferrimagnetic MG catalysts for water remediation.