Low voltage and power output limit the widespread application of marine benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFCs). To increase the cell power, a Fe/Ferric oxide modified anode fabricating by electrolytic deposition is reported here. The novel anode has a lower surface contact angle and higher wettability, which favors the adhesion of bacteria. It is firstly demonstrated that the electrical potential of the modified anode is about -775 mV, much lower than that of the plain graphite (about -450 mV). Open circuit potential of BMFC with the modified anode is about 1050 +/- 50 mV, while the potential for the plain cells is only 700 +/- 50 mV. In comparison with the plain graphite, the modified anode presents a 393-fold exchange current density and a higher kinetic activity. The output power reaches 7.4 x 10(-2) mW cm(-2), 17.4-fold higher than that of the plain graphite. A composite mechanism of both chemical and microbial enhancement of the modified anode is proposed to explain its excellent electrochemical performance. The modified anode has potential for high-power output cell and novel voltage-booster design to make the BMFC utilization feasibility. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.