In at least one embodiment, an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst (ORR) and a method for making the catalyst are provided. The method may include depositing a metal oxide on a graphitized carbon or graphene substrate. A platinum catalyst may then be deposited over the metal oxide to provide an ORR catalyst for use in, for example, a PEMFC. The metal oxide may be niobium oxide and may have an amorphous structure. The platinum catalyst may form a thin, electrically interconnected network structure overlaying the metal oxide. The ORR catalyst may be prepared by alternating the deposition of the metal oxide and the platinum catalyst, for example, using physical vapor deposition. The ORR catalyst may have a specific activity of at least 1,000 μA/cm2 Pt and may approach or achieve bulk Pt activity.