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 (Mn 3 O 4 @CN x ) is readily synthesized using a simple aqueous solution based chelating agent dicyandiamide mediated growth of MnCO 3 followed by calcination at 1000   °C. The Mn 3 O 4 @CN x 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 CN x layer to the Mn ions, is supposed to occur and the high positive charge be generated on the Mn 3 O 4 @CN x surface. As a result, these non-precious hybrid materials display an excellent activity for oxygen reduction reaction in terms of electrocatalytic activity , long-term stability, and excellent resistance to crossover effect.