The currently used carbon-based catalyst supports in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are not sufficiently stable. New, non-carbon catalyst supports are required for large-scale commercialization of PEMFCS, and must be stable in low pH (1-2) and up to +1.5 V (vs. SHE). The material also needs to be porous and conducting (at least 0.1 S cm-1). Furthermore, the catalyst support should also be capable of strongly binding Pt or Pt-based catalysts. Previous research in the DiSalvo group has focused on doped, conducting metal oxides, yet materials with suitable conductivities have been difficult to prepare. In this work, binary and ternary transition metal nitrides are explored as potential replacements for carbon-based catalyst supports. Many nitrides have the required conductivity and chemical stability need for applications in PEMFCs, while their preparation as mesoporous solids is not well reported. In this work, Ti-based mixed metal catalyst supports were prepared as nanoparticles and thin films, and their utility for PEMFC applications investigated using a variety of material characterization techniques. Nitride compounds with Ti, Nb, Cr are conducting as both nanoparticles and thin films, and shown improved oxidation resistance when prepared as co-precipitated nanoparticles. In addition to catalyst supports, LaMO3 (M=Mn, Ni, Fe, Co) perovskites were prepared and studied as oxygen reduction catalysts for alkaline fuel cells. This work shows that these compounds favor the 2-electron reduction of O2 to H2O2 rather than full reduction to H2O. Additionally, the chemical stability of the material is discussed, and found to be unsatisfactory for applications in alkaline fuel cells.