Abstract: A method of preparing M-N—C catalysts utilizing a sacrificial support approach and inexpensive and readily available polymer precursors as the source of nitrogen and carbon is disclosed. Exemplary polymer precursors include those that do not form complexes with iron, but which do complex with silica, for example, polyetheleneimine (PEI), Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), Poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride), Poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), Poly[[6-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)amino]-s-triazine-2,4-diyl]-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]-hexamethylene-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino] and the like.

Abstract: A method of preparing M-N-C catalysts utilizing a sacrificial support approach and inexpensive and readily available polymer precursors as the source of nitrogen and carbon is disclosed. Exemplary polymer precursors include those that do not form complexes with iron, but which do complex with silica, for example, polyetheleneimine (PEI), Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), Poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride), Poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), Poly[[6-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)amino]-s-triazine-2,4-diyl]-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]-hexamethylene-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino] and the like.

Abstract: Methods for forming novel fuel cell catalysts are described. The catalyst has a physical structure that is the inverse image of a plurality of hierarchically structured sacrificial support particles. The particles may be formed independently and then infused with one or more transitional metallic salts and nitrogen carbon precursors, or the sacrificial support precursors, transitional metallic salts, and nitrogen carbon precursors may all be combined in such a way that a hierarchically structured sacrificial support with the infused transitional metallic salts and nitrogen carbon precursors is formed in a single step. The infused sacrificial support is then pyrolized, at least once, and the sacrificial support is removed, resulting in the catalyst.