NOVELTY - A platinum group metal-free catalyst is prepared by preparing (100) metal-organic framework material containing several pores, and non-platinum group metal transition metal catalytic center (c1) chemically bonded via metal-nitrogen-containing bond to organic multidentate ligand in matrix of metal-organic framework material, and thermally treating metal-organic framework material in an environment at a thermal conversion temperature to form large-surface area electrode catalyst having several uniformly distributed electrocatalytic active sites with catalytic centers.    USE - Platinum group metal-free catalyst is used for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (claimed) used in automobiles and distributed power generation.    ADVANTAGE - The platinum group metal-free catalyst has excellent activity and uniform catalyst site distribution. The platinum group metal-free catalyst contains metal-organic framework material having excellent electroconductivity and high surface area. The economical proton-exchange membrane fuel cell using the platinum group metal-free catalyst has high conversion efficiency, low noise and emission, and is operated at low temperature.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A platinum group metal-free catalyst is prepared by preparing metal-organic framework material containing several pores, and non-platinum group metal transition metal catalytic center (c1) chemically bonded via metal-nitrogen-containing bond to organic multidentate ligand in matrix of metal-organic framework material, and thermally treating metal-organic framework material in an environment at a thermal conversion temperature to form high-surface area electrode catalyst having several uniformly distributed electrocatalytic active sites with catalytic centers arising from non-platinum group metal transition metal (m1) chemically bonded in thermally converted metal-organic framework material, for predetermined time. The metal-organic framework material is prepared by dissolving transition metal salt in organic solvent (s1) to form a metal salt solution, dissolving organic multidentate ligand in organic solvent (s1) to form a ligand solution, mixing predetermined molar ratio of the metal salt solution and the ligand solution into a reaction mixture, forming metal-organic framework material by chemically bonding the non-platinum group metal transition metal to the organic multidentate ligand to form metal-organic framework material through a chemical reaction of forming a metal-nitrogen-containing bond to organic multidentate ligand and then separating the metal-organic framework material from the reaction mixture, and substituting portion(s) of contained organic solvent(s1) with chemical moiety (m2) to enhance formation of electrocatalytic active sites in the metal-organic framework material. The non-platinum group metal transition metal in the transition metal salt is chosen from cobalt, iron, nickel, chromium, copper, manganese, tantalum and tungsten. The organic multidentate ligand and organic solvent (s1) are contained within a portion of the several pores. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic view explaining preparation of platinum group metal-free catalyst.    Preparation of metal-organic framework material (100)    Solvent exchange process (120)    Solvent replacement process (140)    Thermal treatment (160)    Post treatment (180)