The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied in KOH electrolyte on manganese oxides supported on Vulcan carbon (MnyOx/C). The oxides were prepared by thermal decomposition of manganese nitrate at different conditions. The oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). The electrochemical studies were conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and steady state polarization measurements carried out with a thin layer rotating ring/disk electrode. XRD results showed that the manganese oxide prepared at 200 degrees C in air is formed by a major phase of beta-MnO, and the polarization curves indicated the highest activity for this material. In situ XANES evidenced the occurrence of a redox process involving Mn(II)/Mn(III) and Mn(III)/Mn(IV) in the range of potentials of the CV measurements. The electrocalytic activity was related to the occurrence of a mediation process involving the reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(III), followed by the electron transfer of Mn(III ) to oxygen and by a disproportionation reaction of the HO2-species in the MnyOx sites. In situ XANES results showed that the Mn(IV) species is MnO2 and the Mn(III) is most likely MnOOH. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.