A catalyst for generating hydrogen and method of its production

A process for producing a catalyst, the process comprising:

• (a) providing an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode, each being connected to an electrical source, said cathode comprising a conductive substrate;
• (b) expositing said electrochemical cell to a first electrolyte solution comprising a metal M salt and a counter ion salt, said first electrolyte solution having an acidic pH;
• and operating said electrochemical cell under first conditions that cause deposition of a proximal layer over said conductive substate, the proximal layer comprising at least metallic M;
• (c) expositing said electrochemical cell having said proximal layer on said substrate, to a second electrolyte solution having an alkaline pH and comprising a metal salt and a counter ion salt, which may be the same or different from the metal salt and the counter ion salt of said first electrolyte solution;
• and operating the electrochemical cell under second conditions that cause deposition of a distal layer over said proximal layer, the distal layer coating comprising a combination of two or more different metal complexes, each having a formula MxLy, wherein
• M, which may be the same or different in said two or more metal complexes, represents a metal atom;
• L, which may be the same or different in said two or more metal complexes, represents a moiety comprising at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen (O), phosphorous (P), boron (B) and nitrogen (N);
• x represents any value between 1 and 6;
• and
• y represents any value between 1 and 6;
• said catalyst comprises said conductive substrate coated with said proximal layer and said distal layer.