Ag nanorods-reduced graphene oxide (Ag-rGO) hybrid nanostructures, as an alternative oxygen reduction catalyst to Pt-based materials, have been prepared through a co-reductive method. The electrochemical performance reveal that both the on-set potentials and the limiting diffusion current densities of Ag-rGO samples are comparable to those of commercial Pt/C catalyst, implying that such hybrid nanostructures could be employed in alkaline fuel cells. Both contrast experimental characterizations and energy level analysis indicate that the enhanced oxygen reduction activity of Ag-rGO hybrid nanostructures can be attributed to the strong coupling between Ag nanorods and rGO sheets. (C) 2019 The Electrochemical Society.