Amorphous nickel boride electrodes doped by small amounts of Rh, Ru, Co, Cr, Zn or Pt were studied for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1 M NaOH solution at 70-degrees-C. Steady-state galvanostatic measurements, a.c. impedance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used. The properties of the pressed electrodes and the kinetic parameters of the HER were determined. The constant phase element model adequately describes the a.c. behaviour of these electrodes. It was found that the HER proceeds through the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism. An increase in catalytic properties was observed for materials doped with Rh, Ru and Co.