TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compounds: The catalyst has a formula A1-xA'x(B1-yB'y)zO3+delta. The cations at the beta site have a smaller crystal ionic radius than the cations at the alpha site. The catalyst has a composition represented by formula Nd1-xCax(Mn1-yFey)zO3+delta. The carbon is in the form of fine particle carbon black having a BET specific surface area of 30 - 2000 m2/g. The carbon is selected from acetylene black, furnace black, channel black or thermal black. The gas diffusion electrode includes an interface to an alkaline electrolyte. Preferred Method: (M1) includes the step of mixing a quantity of the desired oxide catalyst with the carbon before adding the carbon to the aqueous solution, the amount of premixed metal oxide is chosen in conjunction with the amount of metal salts to provide the desired molar ratio after calcining. A portion of the perovskite type oxide was thermally heated in the presence of a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A portion of the perovskite-type oxide was synthesized from a solution containing metal salts.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compounds: The catalyst has a formula A1-xA'x(B1-yB'y)zO3+delta. The cations at the beta site have a smaller crystal ionic radius than the cations at the alpha site. The catalyst has a composition represented by formula Nd1-xCax(Mn1-yFey)zO3+delta. The carbon is in the form of fine particle carbon black having a BET specific surface area of 30 - 2000 m2/g. The carbon is selected from acetylene black, furnace black, channel black or thermal black. The gas diffusion electrode includes an interface to an alkaline electrolyte. Preferred Method: (M1) includes the step of mixing a quantity of the desired oxide catalyst with the carbon before adding the carbon to the aqueous solution, the amount of premixed metal oxide is chosen in conjunction with the amount of metal salts to provide the desired molar ratio after calcining. A portion of the perovskite type oxide was thermally heated in the presence of a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A portion of the perovskite-type oxide was synthesized from a solution containing metal salts.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Compounds: The catalyst and the carbon are bonded by a hydrophobic binder polymer selected from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) or polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).A=a metal selected from La, Pr and Nd;A'=at least one metal selected from potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr) or barium (Ba);B=a metal selected from Mn or Co;B'=at least one metal selected from Fe or Ni;x=0.01 - 0.9 mole fraction;y=0 - 0.9 mole fraction;z=greater than 1 (preferably 1 - 1.05) mole fraction; anddelta=-0.3 - 0.3. Preferred Definitions:    x=0.1 - 0.6 mole fraction;    y=0 - 0.4 mole fraction; and    z=0.95 - 1.05 mole fraction.