An oxygen diffusion cathode for a PEMFC has been prepared by directly depositing the catalyst (pure Pd) on a carbon paper support containing 5% of PTFE through an electroless deposition method. A very low-Pd loading of 0.04 mg(Pd) cm(-2) and a higher one, containing 0.22 mg(Pd) cm(-2), were obtained. Two different experimental approaches were used to evaluate their catalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction. The overall results revealed that the prepared catalysts exhibit a high catalytic activity, but a low efficiency on the catalyst utilization. PEMFC tests, carried out in a single cell, showed the feasibility of using the novel procedure on the preparation of oxygen diffusion cathodes, and its similar performance to a conventional one prepared by spraying the catalyst ink (Pt black) on a carbon paper support. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.