Carbon-based, non-precious-metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction were prepared from aromatic polyamides, poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide) (MPIA) mixed with FeCl2 by pyrolysis. The catalytic activity for electrochemical oxygen reduction was evaluated by the onset potential, measured at a current density of -2 mu A cm(-2). A catalyst prepared by multistep pyrolysis had high N content and high oxygen reduction activity, with an onset potential of 0.93V. A membrane electrode assembly prepared using this catalyst showed an open circuit voltage of 0.99V and a maximum output of 0.48W cm(-2). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.