Spinel-type ternary transition metal oxides of nickel, iron and vanadium with composition NiFe2-xVxO4 (0 <= x <= 1) have been synthesized by a hydroxide precipitation method and investigated for their physicochemical and electrochemical catalytic properties towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions at 25 degrees C. The OER study indicates that substitution of V from 0.25 to 1.0 mol for Fe in the spinel matrix increases the electrocatalytic activity of the oxide greatly; the activity being the greatest with x = 0.5 mol. At low overpotentials, the Tafel slope and the order for the OER with respect to OH- concentration were found to be similar to 40 mV and similar to 2, respectively. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu.