Multivalent manganese oxides with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

A noble-metal-free catalyst based on both Mn₃O₄ and MnO was prepared by using the dielectric barrier discharge technique at moderate temperature. The prepared catalyst shows a higher electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction than the catalyst prepared by using the traditional calcination process. The enhanced activity could be due to the coexistence of manganese ions with different valences, the higher oxygen adsorption capacity, and the suppressed aggregation of the catalyst nanoparticles at moderate temperature. The present work would open a new way to prepare low-cost and noble-metal-free catalysts at moderate temperature for more efficient electrocatalysis.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

oxygen reduction reaction / manganese oxides / mixed valences of manganese / oxygen adsorption / dielectric barrier discharge

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Acknowledgements

The supports from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFF0102503), and Tianjin Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 16JCYBJC19500) are greatly appreciated.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-018-1706-y and is accessible for authorized users.

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