Electrochemical devices such as fuel cells are key to a sustainable energy future. However the applicability of such under
realistic conditions is not viable to date. Expensive precious metals are used as electrocatalysts and contaminants present
in the operating media poison the utilized catalysts. Here the one pot synthesis of a highly active, self-supporting and
surprisingly poison tolerant catalyst is reported. The polymerisation of 1,5-Diaminonaphthalene provides self-assembled
nanospheres, which upon pyrolysis form a catalytically active high surface area material. Tolerance to a wide range of
substances that poison precious metal based catalysts combined with high electrocatalytic activity might enable numerous
additional technological applications. In addition to fuel cells these could be metal-air batteries, oxygen-depolarized chloralkali
cathodes, oxygen sensors, medical implantable devices, waste water treatment and as counter electrodes for many
other sensors where the operating medium is a complex and challenging mixture.