A non-precious nitrogen-modified carbon composite (NMCC) catalyst is synthesized by the pyrolysis of cobalt, iron-ethylenediamine-chelate complexes on silica followed by chemical and pyrolysis treatments. Pyrolysis temperature and time have a remarkable impact on the content and the type of the nitrogen-containing functional groups in the NMCC catalysts, which affect their catalytic activity and stability. Based on the analysis of the nitrogen functional groups before and after the stability tests, the ORR active sites of the NMCC catalysts are proposed to be pyridinic-N and quaternary-N functional groups. However the pyridinic-N group is not stable in the acidic environment due to the protonation reaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.