In-expensive transition metal electrocatalysts are the most promising substitutes to commercial metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells. In this study, we developed the synthesis of uniformly distributed nanosized bimetallic Manganese-Tin (Mn-Sn) oxide encapsulated Nitrogen-induced carbon nanotube hybrids (NC) electrocatalyst (denoted as Mn-Sn@NC) using a hydrothermal process with well-controlling reaction parameters, which exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity towards ORR for the first time. The superior ORR activity is believed to be induced via the hybrid effect among nanosized bimetallic Mn-Sn oxide and N-induced CNTs could modify the surface-strain effects, which led to improved catalytic activity. Therefore, Mn-Sn@NC composite has unique synergistic interactions between bimetallic Mn-Sn oxide and N-induced-Carbon nanotube support, which can enhance the electrochemical surface area, increases electron transfers for ORR activity and far exceed in better methanol tolerance, long-term durability, than benchmark Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the cost-effective bimetallic Mn-Sn oxide or NC support individually have poor catalytic activity towards ORR, but their hybrid materials (Mn-Sn@NC) are influenced strongly due to their chemical-physical properties, such as rich crystalline structure, high-class porosity, nanoparticle size, and multiple electroactive interfaces, show unexpected and remarkably high ORR performance similar to Pt/C in alkaline solution. As proposed Mn-Sn@NC hybrid efficient non-precious electrocatalysts with high ORR activity could open up a new promising approach to advanced catalysts for ORR in fuel cell applications.

Bimetallic Mn-Sn oxide nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon spheres for oxygen reduction reaction

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