This paper describes a new strategy for fabricating a gold (Au) island film based on a silver (Ag) aerosol surface activation onto a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate, followed by electroless deposition (ELD). Spark produced Ag aerosol nanoparticles (similar to 12.3 nm in diameter) were physically captured (8.7 mu g Ag/cm(2) PTFE in activation intensity) onto the surface of the substrate. After annealing (240 degrees C) in nitrogen atmosphere, the activated substrate was placed into a solution for Au ELD (at 90 degrees C). Successive Au deposition introduced an island film having the thickness of similar to 3.1 mu m (the lateral dimensional and mass growth rates of 17.2 nm/min and 9.2 mu g Au/cm(2) PTFE-min, respectively), which was similar to the diameter of the island films at 180 min of deposition. X-ray diffraction certified the uniformity of the films with the Au (111) crystallographic orientation as the predominant one. The corresponding crystallite sizes ranged from 14 to 62 nm for 60-180 min of deposition. Island Au growth was also achieved using the present method for a different porous substrate (polyamide). Through these results, the Ag aerosol activation on a substrate with an uneven surface structure might preferably introduce an island electroless growth of the Au. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3511776] All rights reserved.