Selected coatings on nickel or stainless steel micromeshes have been examined as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in conditions mimicking those found in zero gap alkaline water electrolysers. Voltammetry in 4 M NaOH at a temperature of 333 K, shows that Pt, NiMo and RuO2 are the coatings of choice giving a superior performance particularly at higher current densities. NiMo and RuO2 coatings also give stable performance during a 10 day electrolysis in a laboratory, zero gap, alkaline water electrolysis cell with a hydroxide conducting membrane; when combined with a NiFe(OH)(2) coated anode, a current density of 1 A cm(-2) is achieved with a cell voltage of similar to 2.1 V. Pt catalyses H-2 evolution efficiently at short times of electrolysis but cells with a Pt cathode show an increase in cell voltage from 2.05 V to 2.23 V during the first two days of operation. Crown Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.