Novel catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells

A method for making an oxygen reducing cathode catalyst, the method comprising:

• (a) mixing a carbon source with a transition metal precursor to form a metal precursor loaded carbon substrate substantially free of precious metals;
• (b) adding a nitrogen precursor compound having a N:C ratio of at least about 1:1 to the metal precursor loaded carbon substrate to form a carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor;
• (c) pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor in a closed reaction vessel and at an autogenic pressure ranging from about 2 bar to about 100 bar, thereby forming the oxygen reducing cathode catalyst, wherein pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor decomposes the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor compound and increases nitrogen precursor activity and mobility.

A method for making an oxygen reducing cathode catalyst, the method comprising:

• (a) mixing a carbon source with a transition metal precursor to form a metal precursor loaded carbon substrate;
• (b) adding a nitrogen precursor compound to the metal precursor loaded carbon substrate to form a carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor;
• (c) pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor in a closed reaction vessel and at an autogenic pressure ranging from about 2 bar to about 100 bar, thereby forming the oxygen reducing cathode catalyst, wherein pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor decomposes the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor compound and increases nitrogen precursor activity and mobility.