Composite FeOx nanoparticles embedded in carbon were prepared by the chemical vapor deposition of CH4 on iron phthalocyanine. They showed relatively high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction, demonstrating their potential applicability as inexpensive platinum-free cathode catalysts for use in low-temperature fuel cells. Fe oxides and Fe metal embedded in porous carbon, not nitrogen-coordinated iron compounds, were shown to be the active catalytic sites in composite FeOx nanoparticles embedded in carbon. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.