Priority CommunicationFacile synthesis of perovskite LaMnO3+δ nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction

•A top-down synthesis of LaMnO3+δ nanoparticles (NPs) is demonstrated.•Through a controlled crystallization, perovskite LaMnO3+δ NPs with high surface area were formed.•The LaMnO3+δ NPs annealed at 800 °C exhibit a mass activity of 20 times higher than bulk LaMnO3+δ.•In a stability test, our LaMnO3+δ NPs outperform commercial Pt/C catalyst.

We demonstrate the catalytic performance of perovskite-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst based on LaMnO3+δ nanoparticles (LMO NPs) prepared using the laser ablation synthesis in solution method. The ORR catalytic activity of the post-annealed LMO NPs was similar to that of commercial Pt/C catalysts due to the increased surface area as well as the perovskite crystalline structure of the LMO NPs. The mass and specific activities of the LMO NP catalyst annealed at 800 °C were 20 and 2.2 times higher than those of the bulk LMO, respectively. In a chronoamperometric stability test, our LMO NP catalyst (annealed at 800 °C) outperformed the Pt/C catalyst.

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