Facile construction of Mn3O4 nanorods coated by a layer of nitrogen-doped carbon with high activity for oxygen reduction reaction

Manganese oxide coated with a uniform layer of N-doped carbon (Mn3O4@CNx) is readily synthesized using a simple aqueous solution based chelating agent dicyandiamide mediated growth of MnCO3 followed by calcination at 1000 degrees C. The Mn3O4@CNx can provide sufficient effective three-phase interface area due to the unique structures, which plays the important role in the complex three-phase interface electrocatalytic reaction in oxygen reduction reaction. The electron transfer, from the CNx layer to the Mn ions, is supposed to occur and the high positive charge be generated on the Mn3O4@CNx surface. As a result, these nonprecious hybrid materials display an excellent activity for oxygen reduction reaction in terms of electrocatalytic activity, long-term stability, and excellent resistance to crossover effect. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.