Background: Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) systems are highly effective catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). A number of synthetic approaches exist for preparation of M-N-C catalysts; however synthetic approaches require usage of environmentally unfriendly solvents which leads to complication of manufacturability and increase final costs of operation. There exists a present market need for preparation of M-N-C catalysts utilizing less costly less complicated solvent-free methods. A method of manufacturing metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) networks derived from mechanochemical synthesis assisted by sacrificial supports for tuning the M-N-C morphological structural and electronic properties to achieve high performance for oxygen reduction reactions in fuel cell operations. Technology Description: University of New Mexico researchers have developed a method of manufacturing metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) networks derived from mechanochemical synthesis assisted by sacrificial supports for tuning the M-N-C morphological structural and electronic properties to achieve high performance for oxygen reduction reactions in fuel cell operations. Applications: Fuel cell
1) High performance for oxygen reduction reactions in fuel cell operations 2) Highly durable 3) Capability of tuning M-N-C morphology structure and electronic properties 4) Inexpensive to manufacture 5) Environmentally friendly 6) Synthesized catalysts perform well in alkaline acid and neutral media