The invention relates to a fuel battery catalyst, and in particular relates to application of a carbon gel catalyst in a fuel battery. According to the invention, the precursor components of the catalyst consist of resorcinol, formaldehyde and a metal salt, wherein the metal salt comprises soluble nitrates, carbonates, sulfates, acetates or halides of one or more metal elements in IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB and IIB groups; in the precursor, the molar ratio of resorcinol to formaldehyde is 2:1, and the molar ratio of resorcinol to the metal salt is (5:1)-(1500:1); and the precursor is mixed with organic gel and then carbonized and nitrogenized at the ammonia environment of 500-1200 DEG C so as to prepare the high-activity carbon gel catalyst. According to the invention, as a non-metal catalyst, the carbon gel catalyst shows good oxygen reduction activity and good electrochemical stability when being used as a fuel battery negative electrode catalyst.