Manganese Oxides with Rod-, Wire-, Tube-, and Flower-Like Morphologies: Highly Effective Catalysts for the Removal of Toluene

Nanosized rod-like, wire-like, and tubular α-MnO(2) and flower-like spherical Mn(2)O(3) have been prepared via the hydrothermal method and the CCl(4) solution method, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized using numerous analytical techniques. The catalytic activities of the catalysts were evaluated for toluene oxidation. It is shown that α-MnO(2) nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes with a surface area of 45-83 m(2)/g were tetragonal in crystal structure, whereas flower-like spherical Mn(2)O(3) with a surface area of 162 m(2)/g was of cubic crystal structure. There were the presence of surface Mn ions in multiple oxidation states (e.g., Mn(3+), Mn(4+), or even Mn(2+))…