Ni nanopillar structures were fabricated on glassy carbon electrodes (Ni-GLAD/GC) using glancing angle deposition (GLAD). Thin, conformal layers of Pt were deposited by a rotating substrate, self-limiting, high current density galvanostatic deposition to form Ni-GLAD{Pt}/GC deposits. The Pt loading in the Ni-GLAD{Pt}/GC deposits was systematically varied by interrupting the deposition at various coverages, and the series of the Ni-GLAD{Pt}/GC deposits were evaluated as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in O-2 saturated, 0.1 M HClO4 at room temperature. The optimum amount of Pt (initial wt. ratio similar to Pt0.22Ni0.78) was deposited over 800 to 1500 seconds. These deposits, after dealloying, were about 30 times more active by mass and by surface area than a {Pt}/GC electrode prepared by deposition of Pt onto GC under the same conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.