• Ce based catalysts
• ORR
• PGM-free

In this thesis work we prepared and characterized new cerium-based M-N-C materials. The idea to have a bigger active site imprinter like a lanthanide would have formed a bigger pocket M-Nx (with X > 4) since this could have improved the catalytic activity after the transmetallation with iron. Moreover, for Fe–N–C catalysts, one of the main degradation mechanisms that is usually discussed is the surface oxidation induced by H2O2. For this purpose, cerium is used to improve the catalytic activity and to avoid the degradation of the fuel cell since this lanthanide works like a radical scavenger which improves polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell durability.