γ-MnO_(2) nanorod-assembled hierarchical micro-spheres with oxygen vacancies to enhance electrocatalytic performance toward the oxygen reduction reaction for aluminum-air batteries

γ-MnO2 nanorod-assembled hierarchical micro-spheres with abundant oxygen defects are synthesized by a simple thermal treatment approach as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for Al(aluminum)-air batteries. The rich oxygen vacancies on the surface of γ-MnO2 are verified by morphology, structure,electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) results. The oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) electrocatalytic activity of γ-MnO2 is significantly improved by the incoming oxygen vacancies. The γ-MnO2 nanorod-assembled hierarchical micro-spheres calcined under 300 °C in Ar atmosphere show the best ORR performance. The primary Al-air batteries using γ-MnO2 catalysts as the cathode, which demonstrates excellent peal power density of 318 m W cm^(-2) when applying theγ-MnO2 catalysts with optimal amount of oxygen vacancies.