NOVELTY - A cathode for electrolytic processes, comprises a nickel substrate with a coating having two physically-distinct zones including a first protection zone and a second catalytic activation zone. The protection zone contains palladium. The activation zone contains platinum and/or ruthenium catalyst for hydrogen evolution.    USE - As a cathode for electrolytic processes; useful in a cell for electrolysis of an alkali chloride brine (claimed); useful for hydrogen evolution in an industrial electrolytic process such as chlor-alkali electrolysis.    ADVANTAGE - The protection zone containing palladium, exhibits a protective function especially towards current inversion phenomena. Palladium of the protection zone, imparts lifetime enhancement to cathode, especially in conditions of repeated current inversions due to accidental malfunctioning of relevant electrolysers. During normal electrolysis operation, palladium in conjunction with silver, forms hydrides, which are ionized during current inversion, thus preventing the shifting of cathode potential to high values that give rise to dissolution phenomena of ruthenium and platinum. Thus, palladium or palladium/silver mixtures behave as a reversible hydrogen sponge capable of releasing hydrogen ionized during the inversion events, as soon as normal functioning conditions are restored (i.e. self-hybridization effect). The activation zone exhibits catalytic function towards cathodic hydrogen evolution. The activation zone of cathode, based on platinum and/or ruthenium and optionally containing small amounts of rhodium, is stabilized in cathodic discharge conditions, upon addition of elements like chromium or praseodymium, in the form of oxides having high oxidizing power. The addition of elements like chromium or praseodymium, preserves the catalyst activity, while contributing stability to the platinum/ruthenium-based catalysts. The cathode is manufactured at an acceptable cost and exhibits optimum performances in terms of adhesion to the substrate.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A cathode for electrolytic processes, comprises a nickel substrate with a coating having two physically-distinct zones including a first protection zone and a second catalytic activation zone. The protection zone contains palladium optionally mixed with silver. The activation zone contains platinum and/or ruthenium catalyst for hydrogen evolution, optionally mixed with rhodium and at least one oxide of an additional element selected from chromium and rare earths such as praseodymium. The protection zone is provided as an intermediate layer between the nickel substrate and the catalytic activation zone; or is provided in the form of palladium-rich islands dispersed in activation zone. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for preparation of a cathode, involving preparing an aqueous solution containing at least one thermally-decomposable palladium compound (e.g. palladium (II) nitrate), optionally mixed with a silver compound; preparing a hydro-alcoholic solution containing at least one thermally-decomposable compound of platinum and/or ruthenium (e.g. platinum (II) diamino dinitrate and/or ruthenium (III) nitrosyl nitrate), optionally mixed with at least one compound of an element selected from chromium and rare earths (e.g. chromium (III) nitrate or praseodymium (III) nitrate), and preferably in a mixture of 2-propanol, eugenol and water; applying the aqueous solution to a nickel substrate in multiple cycles, with execution of a decomposition thermal treatment after each cycle, until a palladium-containing deposit is obtained; and applying the hydro-alcoholic solution to the palladium-containing deposit in multiple cycles, with execution of a decomposition thermal treatment after each cycle, until a platinum and/or ruthenium-containing deposit is obtained.