High electrocatalytic performance of Mn3O4/mesoporous carbon composite for oxygen reduction in alkaline solutions

The Mn3O4 nanoparticles (ca. 10 nm) were artificially loaded the on the outer surface of CMK-3, rather than forming within the pores of CMK-3, by utilizing the hydrophobic property of CMK-3 itself and its narrow pore size. The electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen reduction of the prepared Mn3O4/CMK-3 composite was extensively studied as an air diffusion electrode material in comparison with the composite catalysts based on the other carbons (carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, and graphite). The results of electrochemical tests indicate that the Mn3O4/CMK-3 composite 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. As a result, the composite electrode behaves with a much higher electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction than that of the composite catalysis based on the other carbons.