Simple synthetic route to manganese-containing nanowires with the spinel crystal structure

• Synthesis of single-crystalline manganese-containing spinel nanowires.
• Binary oxide nanowire converted to ternary oxide wire through solid state reaction.
• Approach to structure conversion with shape retention could be generally applicable.
• Copper and Manganese display multiple oxidation states with potential for catalysis.
• CuMn2O4 nanowires show promise as catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.

This report describes a new route to synthesize single-crystalline manganese-containing spinel nanowires (NWs) by a two-step hydrothermal and solid-state synthesis. Interestingly, a nanowire or nanorod morphology is maintained during conversion from MnO2/MnOOH to CuMn2O4/Mg2MnO4, despite the massive structural rearrangement this must involve. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) curves of the products give preliminary demonstration that CuMn2O4 NWs are catalytically active towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solution, exhibiting five times the magnitude of current density found with pure carbon black.

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