TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method (M1) further involves: washing the metal-containing fuel cell cathode catalyst with a metal removing agent to form a washed fuel cell cathode catalyst; washing the metal-containing supported fuel cell cathode catalyst with a metal removing agent to form a washed supported fuel cell cathode catalyst. In the method, the nitro-containing, amino-containing aromatic compound and the transition metal salt and/or nanoparticle substrate are intimately mixed prior to pyrolyzing step. The pyrolyzing step occurs by heating to a first temperature of at least 175 degrees C; or in the substantial absence of a protic acid. The activating step occurs by heating to a second temperature of at least 350 degrees C. The pyrolyzing step is continued until the evolution of volatile by-products has ceased. The activating step is carried out under anhydrous conditions. Preferred Components: The washed fuel cell cathode catalyst or washed supported fuel cell cathode catalyst is free of transition metal. The transition metal salt is selected from an anhydrous salt of Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Cr(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Ni(II) and/or Cu(II). The transition metal salt is selected from metal chloride, metal bromide, metal iodide, metal fluoride, metal acetate, metal nitrate, metal nitrite, metal carbonate, metal cyanide, metal hydroxide, metal phosphate, metal phosphite, metal sulfite and/or metal sulfate. The fuel cell cathode catalyst is a supported fuel cell cathode catalyst. The nanoparticle substrate is selected from carbon; and/or binary or ternary carbide, nitride, and/or suicide of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Ni, Cu, B, or Si (preferably carbide, suicide, and/or nitride of Ti, Ta, or W).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The nitro-containing, amino-containing aromatic compound is selected from 2-nitroaniline, 3-nitroaniline, 4-nitroaniline, 2-methyl-3-nitroaniline, 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline, 2-methyl-5-nitroaniline, 2-methyl-6-nitroaniline, 4-methyl-2-nitroaniline, 4-ethyl-2-nitroaniline, 2-chloro-4-nitroaniline, 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline, 2-amino-4-nitrophenol, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene, 2-amino-4-chloro-5-nitrotoluene, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline, 2,6-dibromo-4-nitroaniline, 4,5-dichloro-2-nitroaniline, 4-(benzyloxy)-5-bromo-2-nitroaniline, 4-(tert-butyl)-3-nitroaniline, 4-benzyloxy-2-nitroaniline, 4-methoxy-3-nitroaniline, 5-bromo-4-methyl-2-nitroaniline 5-chloro-2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline, 5-ethoxy-4-fluoro-2-nitroaniline, 5-nitro-l-naphthylamine, 2-amino-7-nitrofluorene, 4-nitrophthalimide and/or 2-amino-5-nitropyridine. The weight ratio of the transition metal salt to the nitro-containing, amino-containing aromatic compound in the mixture or the transition metal salt to the nanoparticle substrate in the mixture is 10:1-1:10. The mixture further comprises at least one auxiliary nitrogen-containing compound; at least one nanoparticle substrate. The auxiliary nitrogen-containing compound is selected from haematoporphyrin dihydrogen chloride, porphyrin, protoporphyrin, 5,10,15 ,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)porphyrin tetra(p-toluenesulfonate), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-trimethyl-ammoniophenyl)porphyrin tetra(p-toluenesulfonate), meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin iron, 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)catechol, 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)-1-naphthol, 4-(4-nitrophenylazo)resorcinol, 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, diaminomaleonitrile and its derivatives, 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-imidazole, 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole, 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-pyrrolidino-2-pyrazolin-5-one, 1-(4-nitrophenyl)glycerol, 1-(4- nitrophenyl)piperazine, and/or their transition metal complex. EXAMPLE - Grinding of reagents (G). Anhydrous FeCl3 (8.10 g), 2-niroaniline (5.4 g) and 55C carbon(3.68 g) as precursors were intimately and thoroughly mixed to provide a mixture that appeared relatively homogeneous, and then ground using a tungsten carbide mortar and pestle until the mixtures were very uniform in appearance and color. After combining and homogenizing the reagents by grinding, dry milling, the mixture of reagents was charged to a beaker, along with a Teflon stir bar, and the beaker was fitted with a loose-fitting aluminum cover having a hole in the center to allow an introduction of nitrogen gas during the thermal treatment. After thoroughly flushing the beaker with nitrogen gas, the beaker was heated on a hot plate while maintaining a gentle flow of nitrogen. Above 150-200 degrees C, the mixture darkened and liquefied and the mixture was slowly stirred using the stir bar. Between 275-300 degrees C the liquefied mixture began to smoke and the mixture swelled and expanded, and solidified with a sharp release of gas. Additional heat was supplied by heating the exterior of the beaker with a heat gun until the evolution of gas had ceased. The resulting material was cooled under a flow of nitrogen and subsequently was removed by scraping with a spatula. The grinding step was repeated. The thermally-induced reaction mixture was washed by sedimentation/decantation with a solution prepared by diluting concentrated ammonium hydroxide (25-500 ml) with deionized water. The sample was combined with 0.25 inch zirconia mill media (1700 g) and deionized water (570 g) in a 1 -quart polyethylene jar and the mixture was vibro-milled for 24 hours using a Sweco grinding mill. The material was separated by settling/decantation. Firing was carried out in a tube furnace through which the treatment gases were passed. The firing gas treatment schedule(s) was described below for each sample. Acid washing was performed by immersing the sample for 24 hours in sulfuric acid solution (300 g), prepared by diluting concentrated sulfuric acid (100 g) in deionized water (800 g). The sample was separated from the acid by decantation and then washed with 2 l of deionized water by settling/decantation. The sample was dried at 130 degrees C for 12 hours.