Nickel (Ni) nanoparticle (NP)-doped carbon film (similar to 1 mm thick) was prepared by the carbonization and activation of the phenol-melamine precursor-based polymeric film. The polymeric film was in situ dispersed with the Ni NPs during the polymerization step. Melamine served as the source of nitrogen (N) in the material. Three dimensional (3D) micropillars were fabricated on both sides of the carbon film, using laser-ablation technique. Decorated with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) using chemical vapor deposition technique, the N-enriched Ni/carbon micropillar-embedded carbon film was used as the electrode of a double chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC). The MFC generated a high open circuit potential (similar to 0.75 V) and maximum power density (similar to 2496 mW/m(2)). The maximum power density of such MFCs was approximately ten times greater than that generated using the pristine carbon film-based electrodes. The high performance of the electrodes prepared in this study is attributed to the synergetic effects of the graphitic CNFs, electrocatalytic N and Ni NPs, and 3D microstructure providing support to biofilm. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.