A series of tri-metallic oxygen reduction catalysts derived from pyrolyzed Fe-M-1-M-2 (where M = Co, Ni, Cu and Mn) and 4-aminoantipyrine (Fe-M-1-M-2-AAPyr) were prepared using a sacrificial support method (SSM). The influence of the iron interacting with the two transition metals on the catalytic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated. This series of materials was analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the BET method (BET) in order to establish structural morphology, and rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) experiments were performed to evaluate catalytic activity. The results were then correlated to one another, thereby establishing a composition to function relationship. Data from the ring current was used to execute a mechanistic study of the materials for the ORR, and it was found that supplementation of the iron with transition metals significantly improved catalytic activity, in addition to decreasing the hydrogen peroxide yield. The most pronounced enhancement of ORR catalysts is when the base transition metal Fe is supplemented with Co as a secondary metal and Cu or Mn are the tertiary metal in the system. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.