Preliminary studies were conducted to develop a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) electrode prepared by reactive sputtering method. The microstructure, surface morphology and electrochemical properties of iridium oxide (IrO2) coatings synthesized by unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBMS) and conventional DSA electrode were compared. In addition, the possibilities Of IrO2 films synthesized by UMB on a real DSA electrode were investigated by electro-chemical application test. The degree of non-stoichiometry and surface area were closely related to the electro-chemical activity of the IrO2 electrode. The feasibility of making a DSA electrode prepared by PVD technique was demonstrated through the present work. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.