TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The step of mixing the carbon source with a transition metal precursor further involves stirring the carbon source with the transition metal precursor in a solvent for up to 12 hours and evaporating the solvent to form the carbon-metal substrate. The nominal amount of the metal precursor added to the carbon source to form the metal precursor loaded carbon substrate is 0.75-10 wt.% of the substrate. The pyrolyzing step involves pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor at 600-900 degrees C in a closed reaction vessel; and further involves pyrolyzing the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor using a spray pyrolysis apparatus. In the adding step, the nitrogen precursor compound has N:C ratio of at least 1:1 (preferably at least 2:1) to the metal precursor loaded carbon substrate to form a carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor, and comprises melamine. Preferred Components: The carbon source comprises at least one of Norit SX Ultra (RTM: acid washed, steam activated carbon having a surface area (BET) of 1200 m2/g, an apparent density, tamped, of 0.32 g/ml, a particle size distribution (d10) of 5 mu m, d50 of 25 mu m, d90 of 100 mu m, and a pH of 7), Ketjenblack (RTM: electroconductive carbon black, in pellet form, having a pore volume of 300-520 ml/100 g with fines (less than 125 micron) of less than 7%, a pH of 8-10, and an apparent bulk density of 100-150 kg/m3), pyrolyzed perylene tetracarboxylic anhydride (PTCDA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Black Pearls (RTM: engineered pigment black having an oil absorption number (OAN) of 65 cc/100 g, a 325 mesh residue of less than 200 ppm, and a density of 430 kg/m3), Printex XE2 (RTM: carbon black having a cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surface area of 600 m2/g, an OAN of 380 m/100 g, a compressed oil absorption number (COAN) of 370 ml/100 g, a sieve residue, 325 mesh of 20 ppm, and a pour density of 130 g/dm3), pyrrole black, graphitic powder, acetylene black, Vulcan XC72 (RTM: conductive carbon black pellet or powder having an OAN of 174 cc/100 g, surface area of 210 m2/g, 325 mesh residue of less than 25 ppm, and density of 264 kg/m3), oxidized carbon supports, and metal carbides. The transition metal precursor is a transition metal macrocycle, and/or a transition metal salt. The transition metal macrocycle comprises cobalt phthalocyanine, iron phthalocyanine, cobalt tetraazannulene, iron tetramethoxy phenyl porphyrin chloride, tetracarboxylic cobalt, iron phthalocyanine, tetramethoxy phenyl porphyrin chloride, cobalt salen-N,N'-bissalicylidine, ethylenediaminocobalt, cobalt-anten-O-amino, ferrocene, benzaldehyde, ethylenediamino cobalt, and/or iron phenanthroline. The transition metal salt comprises a cation selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, cerium, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum and/or manganese; and an anion selected from acetate, chloride, nitrate and/or sulfate (preferably iron (II) acetate). The nominal amount of nitrogen in the carbon-metal-nitrogen precursor is 1.0-15 wt.%. The nitrogen precursor compound undergoes a decomposition reaction to form ammonia; and comprises an ammonia generating precursor selected from ammonium hydroxide, urea and/or ammonium carbamate. The nitrogen precursor compound comprises an ammonium salt. The reaction vessel comprises quartz. The anode catalyst comprises a catalyst ink having at least one transition metal selected from platinum, ruthenium and/or palladium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The nitrogen precursor compound is selected from poly(quinoxaline), nitroaniline, 1,10 phenanthroline, phthalocyanine, pyridine, bipyridine, polyaniline, pyrrole, polyvinyl pyridine, 3-nitrophalimide, para-phenylazophenol, 6-quinoline carboxylic acid, 6-nitrobenzimidazole, 5-amino 6-nitro quinoline, 2,3 naphthalocyanine, 4,4'-azoxydibenzoic acid, 2 amino 5-nitro pyrimidine, hematin, 4,4' azo-bis(cyanovaleric acid), heamatoporphyrin dihydrochloride, 4,4' nitrophenyl azo catechol 4,6 dihydroxy pyrimidine, nitrophenyl, benzylamine, 1,6 phenylendiamine, tetracyanoquinodimethane, propylene diamine, ethylene di-amine, urea, selenourea, thiourea, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, ammonia, acetonitrile and/or polymers; comprises melamine; and is free of carbon. The recast ionomer comprises poly(perfluorosulfonic acid). EXAMPLE - Production of carbon-iron-pyridine oxygen reduction cathode catalyst was carried out as follows: Ketjenblack 600JD (RTM: electroconductive carbon black, in pellet form, having a pore volume of 300-520 ml/100 g with fines (less than 125 micron) of less than 7%, a pH of 8-10, and an apparent bulk density of 100-150 kg/m3) as carbon support, was dispersed in 95% ethanol. To this solution, iron (II) acetate corresponding to 1 wt.% of iron on carbon was added and the slurry was stirred for 6 hours. After the solvent was evaporated, a dry composite powder was obtained. The obtained composite material (55 mg) was ground with 2,2' bipyridine (35-85 mg) and the powder was subsequently charged into a stainless steel bomb (as pyrolysis vessel (bomb) i.e. a closed vessel made from steel, ceramics or quartz) that has a volume of 1.7 ml. The material was charged into the bomb in an inert atmosphere. At around 273 degrees C, bipyridine was decomposed and the pressure was increased inside the bomb and this fixes nitrogen in the catalyst.