An electrochemical approach to nanoporous film-based gold catalyst design using the underpotential deposition and redox replacement technique is presented. The procedure consisted of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper on the gold nanoporous film, with subsequent replacement of the copper by palladium at open circuit in a palladium containing solution. The resulting electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic activity of as-prepared palladium nanoporous gold film electrodes toward the oxygen reduction reaction is presented. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.