Active oxide coatings were deposited (12 layers) onto Ni or stainless steel rods by thermal decompn. of BuOH solns. of Ni and Co nitrates, Rh, Ir, Pd and Ti chlorides and chloroplatinic acid by the immersion method, electrochemically reduced in KOH soln. at 80 degrees C and current density 5 kA/m(2) for 25 h and studied for Fe poisoning resistance, surface morphology, corrosion rate, phase compn., elec. capacity, and H evolution overpotential. The lowest hydrogen overpotential was found for the active coatings based on Ni and Co with addition of Pt deposited on the Ni substrate. The low overpotential and good stability showed 4-component Co:Pt:Ru:Ti coatings. The lowest overpotential was found in the case of 4-component coatings containing 16% at. Ti. Their overpotential in 1 M NaOH at 25 degrees C was ca. 60 mV at current d. 10 mA/cm(2).