Monodisperse M(x)Fe(3-x)O4 (M = Fe, Cu, Co, Mn) nanoparticles and their electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction.

Sub-10 nm nanoparticles (NPs) of M(II)-substituted magnetite MxFe3-xO4 (MxFe1-xO•Fe2O3) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Cu) were synthesized and studied as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.1 M KOH solution. Loaded on commercial carbon support, these MxFe3-xO4 NPs showed the M(II)-dependent ORR catalytic activities with MnxFe3-xO4 being the most active followed by CoxFe3-xO4, CuxFe3-xO4, and Fe3O4. The ORR activity of the MnxFe3-xO4 was further tuned by controlling x and MnFe2O4 NPs were found to be as efficient as the commercial Pt in catalyzing ORR. The MnFe2O4 NPs represent a new class of highly efficient non-Pt catalyst for ORR in alkaline media.