This study reports a direct route for deposition of Pd nanoclusters on single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) in a one step reaction involving chemical reduction of metal ions in the presence of a polymer-stabilizer. The applied strategy provides small Pd nanoclusters with an average diameter of similar to2.3 nm robustly attached to the nanotubular carbon. The attachment is mediated by the polymer (poly(vinylpyrrolidone), PVP) used to stabilize the nanoclusters.