Highly nitrogenated carbon nanorods were first fabricated onto stainless steel plates by the electrolysis of a solution of dicyandimide in acetonitrile at ambient atmospheric pressure and low temperature. The nitrogenated carbon nanorods displayed the typically nanocrystalline/amorphous composite structure, which was composed of the irregular graphitic layers. A corresponding growth mechanism was proposed based on the structural characterization involving the liquid-solid process with the assistance of the iron catalytic effect. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3479663] All rights reserved.