Abstract: A composite oxide MnCo2O4 was prepared by microwave heating a precursor of oxalate mixture obtained by coprecipitation using manganese acetate and cobalt acetate as raw materials. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results show that the MnCo2O4 is good nanocrystalline with high purity and 10-20 nm size. The catalytic activity of MnCo2O4 for oxygen reduction in a basic solution at room temperature was tested. The polarization curve reveals that the current density reaches 96 mA/cm2 at -0.2 V (vs Hg/HgO). In order to show the superiority of the microwave heating method, physical and chemical properties of the same product made by a conventional combustion method were also evaluated.

Key words: cobalt, manganese, composite oxide, microwave heating, oxygen reduction, electrocatalysis