Facile synthesis of Mn–Co oxide nanospheres with controllable interior structures and their catalytic properties for methane combustion

• Mn–Co oxide nanospheres with different interior structures were synthesized.
• Hollow and yolk–shell spheres were prepared by non-equilibrium heat-treatment process.
• CH4 catalytic combustion of the as-obtained Mn–Co oxide nanospheres was explored.
• The (Co,Mn)(Co,Mn)2O4 yolk–shell nanospheres showed relatively higher activity.

Uniform Mn–Co mixed oxide solid, hollow and yolk–shell nanospheres with nanometer-sized building blocks have been successfully fabricated by heat-treatment of their Mn–Co alkoxyacetate precursors at a proper ramping rate. The formation of the hollow and yolk–shell structures during the thermal decomposition is mainly based on the heterogeneous contraction caused by non-equilibrium heat treatment. In virtue of the unique structural features, the resultant Mn–Co oxide nanospheres with different interiors were used as catalysts in CH4 combustion, and showed an excellent catalytic activity. Catalytic results suggest that the (Co,Mn)(Co,Mn)2O4 yolk–shell nanospheres show relatively higher activity.