Evaluation of MnOx phase effects in MnOx@CeO2 on the low temperature NOx catalytic reduction performance with NH3

•MnOx@CeO2 with similar size and morphology were obtained by same method to accurately evaluate the MnOx phase effects on NH3-SCR catalytic activity.•NH3-SCR catalytic activity order of MnOx@CeO2 catalyst was found as: MnO2@CeO2 > Mn2O3@CeO2 > Mn3O4@CeO2 below 200 °C and MnO2@CeO2 > Mn2O3@CeO2≈Mn3O4@CeO2 at range of 200–400 °C, while Mn2O3@CeO2 exhibited the best N2 selectivity.•Better redox ability and more surface acid sites contribute to the excellent catalytic activity of MnO2@CeO2.