CATALYST, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, AND USE THEREOF

The invention provides catalysts which are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. The catalysts include a niobium-containing oxycarbonitride having I 2 /(I 1 + I 2 ) of not less than 0.25 wherein I 1 is the maximum X-ray diffraction intensity at diffraction angles 2¸ of 25.45° to 25.65°and I 2 is the maximum X-ray diffraction intensity at diffraction angles 2¸ = 2¸ of 25.65° to 26.0° according to X-ray powder diffractometry (Cu-K±, radiation).