In this paper, an efficient and cost-effective method to prepare cathodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was developed. Fe(CO)(5) was decomposed and Fe was deposited on graphite felts for cathodic preparation. The unmodified, Pt modified and Fe modified graphite felts were utilized as cathodes in MFCs and power generation was compared. The maximum power density of MFCs with unmodified, Pt modified and Fe modified cathodes were respectively 288, 866 and 925 mW/m(3). The internal resistance of MFCs with unmodified, Pt modified and Fe modified cathodes were respectively 505, 384 and 278 Omega. The results of multiple analyses confirmed that Fe on cathode was Fe2O3 and FeOOH and Fe(III) oxides as cathodic catalysts improved the electrochemical activity and promoted power generation. The greatest advantage of new method for cathodic preparation was the replacing manual brushing and Nafion solution and decreasing the cost. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.