Pure iron metal target was sputtered onto carbon nanotube grown on carbon paper to fabricate iron-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The carbon nanotube-supported Fe-based catalysts have active sites which are believed to include iron cations coordinated by pyridinic nitrogen functionalities between the graphitic sheets. A Fe-based electrocatalyst treated at 950 degrees C displayed the highest mass activity. The treated sample at lower temperature could not form the Fe/N/CNT sufficiently. On the other hand, the formed Fe/N/CNTs were degraded thermally at higher temperature. Cyclic voltammetry of the Fe-based electrocatalysts showed similar trends with mass activity which is the largest value at 950 degrees C. Even though the catalytic activity is not comparable with that of Pt/C catalysts yet, sputtered Fe-based electrocatalysts are promising to explore the non-precious metal electrocatalysts. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.