Development of new, more active catalysts is essential for sustainable economy growth because it not only improves the efficiency of chemical transformations, but also enhances their selectivity and yield. This minimizes waste production and energy consumption. Without doubt, the demand for new catalysts will keep growing. Clear challenge in developing catalysts is the ability to control their activity on demand. Activation of latent homogeneous catalysts by external stimuli can be achieved by pH (1), light (2) or heat (3). The catalyst molecule can be also turned on by application of mechanical force such as ultrasound (4). We report activation of platinum catalyst thin films for oxygen reduction reaction in perchloric acid electrolytes when the films are subjected to mechanical stress. The catalysts films were deposited by magnetron sputtering on photosensitive chalcogenide As₂₀Se₈₀ semiconductor glass layer. When platinum films are illuminated by red laser light the glass under semitransparent platinum film exhibits photo-induced flow. The material flow underneath platinum film induces mechanical stress resulting in film wrinkling and significant increase in its catalytic activity.