Non-noble　metal　iron-based　catalysts,　featuring　an　abundant　atomically　dispersed　Fe-nitrogen-carbon　(Fe-N-C)　structure,　have　been　identified　as　highly　promising　alternatives　to　platinum　group　metal　(PGM)　catalysts　for　the　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　in　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cells　(PEMFCs).　However,　there　are　still　huge　challenges　in　synthesizing　high-performance　Fe-N-C　catalysts　via　the　traditional　mechanochemical　method　assisted　only　by　the　assisted　liquid.　In　this　study,　we　utilized　a　hard-template-assisted　mechanochemical　strategy　followed　by　high-temperature　pyrolysis　to　synthesize　Fe-N-C　catalysts　with　high　specific　surface　area　(1444.4　m2　g−1),　due　to　the　improved　ZIF-8　precursor　and　the　uniform　distribution　of　the　Fe-N-C　motif.　The　introduction　of　NaCl　as　an　unaltered　hard　template　during　the　mechanochemical　reaction　not　only　improved　the　conversion　efficiency　and　porous　carbon　framework　of　the　precursor,　but　also　optimized　the　distribution　of　the　metal　element,　providing　greater　possibilities　for　the　traditional　ball　milling　method.　Benefitting　from　the　precise　doping　control　and　porous　carbon　framework,　the　optimized　2%Fe-ZIF@NaCl　electrocatalyst　demonstrated　a　high　half　wave　potential　(E1/2　=　0.831　V)　in　acidic　media　and　a　promising　maximum　power　density　(504　mW　cm−2)　in　H2-O2　PEMFCs.　The　hard　template　expands　the　application　scenarios　of　mechanochemical　methods　on　the　basis　of　the　assisted　liquid　method.　©　2023　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.