Nitrogen-doped Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes-MnCo₂O₄ microsphere as electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Nitrogen-doped Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (N-doped MWCNT)/MnCo₂O₄hybrid is synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction studies revealed the single phase formation of cubic spinel structured MnCo₂O₄and their composites. The presence of D and G band of MWCNT is identified through Raman spectral analysis. The elemental oxidation state and nitrogen content is obtained using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which elucidates that Co and Mn exists in multivalence state and the nitrogen functional groups are in pyrolytic and pyridinic-type. FE-SEM shows the microsphere formation of MnCo₂O₄and size exhibits in the range of 6–9 μm. The N-doped MWCNT/MnCo₂O₄hybrid catalyst exhibits an improved oxygen reduction electrocatalytic activity in an aqueous alkaline medium when compared with pristine MnCo₂O₄.