MnOx-cobalt tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP)/black pearls 2000 carbon black (BP) composite catalysts were synthesized by depositing CoTMPP onto carbon-supported MnOx (MnOx/BP), followed by heat-treatment from 500 to 900 degrees C in N-2 atmosphere. The electrochemical characteristics of the catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were evaluated by the rotating disk electrode technique in half cells using 1 M KOH solution. BP2000 was used as a carbon support, which was pretreated with 30% H2O2 to enhance the catalytic activities. Koutecky-Levich plots reveal a two-electron process, giving evidence that the ORR is mainly controlled by the formation of H2O2. Doping MnOx into the carbon support improves the activity of catalysts for ORR. There are two oxygen reduction peaks produced from these catalysts during the negative cyclic voltammetry scan. We obtained the best results using 800 degrees C for the heat-treatment. At these conditions the X-ray diffraction results revealed that is mainly cubic MnO. The battery performance of a zinc-air single cell using MnOx-CoTMPP/BP as cathode catalyst was investigated, and the results show that the battery has good performance; the maximum output current density reached 216.3 mA/cm(2) at a potential of 1.0 V. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.