NOVELTY - The method comprises preparing a metal-organic framework (MOF) material having pores, substituting a portion of a first organic solvent of the MOF material with a second chemical moiety to enhance formation of electrocatalytic active sites in the MOF material, thermally treating (160) the MOF material for a predetermined period within an environment at a thermal conversion temperature to form a high surface area electrode catalyst having uniformly distributed electrocatalytic active sites, and dissolving a templating agent with the first organic solvent to form the ligand solution.    USE - The method is useful for preparing a high surface area electrode catalyst, which is useful in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell such as a membrane electrode assembly for automobiles and distributed power generation and in electrocatalytic applications.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of preparing the electrode catalyst in an effective and economical manner with enhanced performance, good oxygen reduction reaction activity and improved catalytic activity thus increasing conversion efficiency of the fuel cell and reducing noise and emissions in the fuel cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises preparing a metal-organic framework (MOF) material having pores, substituting a portion of a first organic solvent of the MOF material with a second chemical moiety to enhance formation of electrocatalytic active sites in the MOF material, thermally treating (160) the MOF material for a predetermined period within an environment at a thermal conversion temperature to form a high surface area electrode catalyst having uniformly distributed electrocatalytic active sites, dissolving a templating agent with the first organic solvent to form the ligand solution, subjecting the high surface area electrode catalyst to an acid washing process with an inorganic acid to remove a portion of the first transition metal from the MOF material, and a secondary thermal treatment of the electrode catalyst in an inert carrier gas and/or a reductive carrier gas of the environment in the acid washing process. The step of preparing the MOF material comprises dissolving a first transition metal salt of a transition metal salt in the first organic solvent to form a metal salt solution, dissolving a multidentate ligand in the first organic solvent to form the ligand solution, mixing a predetermined molar ratio of the metal salt solution and the ligand solution into a reaction mixture, forming the MOF material through a chemical reaction, and separating the MOF material from the reaction mixture as a precipitate. The MOF material includes a non-platinum group metals (PGM) first transition metal catalytic center and an organic ligand. The first organic solvent is contained within a portion of the pores. The second chemical moiety is dimensioned to infiltrate the pores and form bimetallic electrocatalytic active sites, and comprises an organometallic complex and/or a second metal salt. The acid washing process improves the electrochemical activity of the high surface area electrode catalyst. The predetermined period is between 60-90 minutes. The thermal conversion temperature is 700-800 degrees C. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a non-platinum group metal electrode catalyst in a fuel cell; and    (2) a method of preparing a nitrogen containing electrode catalyst free of precious group metals.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a flow chart of a method of preparing a non-PGM catalyst.    Synthesizing a MOF material (100)    Exchanging a MOF material in a solvent (120,140)    Thermally treating a MOF material (160)    Post treating a MOF material. (180)