NOVELTY - The method for producing a zirconia-based layer on a deposition substrate, under use of reactive spark deposition using pulsed spark current and/or the application of a magnetic field that is perpendicular to the spark target, where a mixed target consists of elementary zircon and a stabilizer, comprises producing a layer in cubic and/or tetragonal crystal structure, where the oxygen partial pressure is 10 Pa. The concentration ratio of zirconium oxide and the stabilizer is pre-defined on the layer through the concentration ratio of zircon and the stabilizer in the mixed target.    USE - Method useful for producing a zirconia-based layer on a deposition substrate for friction-reducing shrinkage, for the production of a solid electrolyte layer in a fuel cell, for the production of a layer as growth layer for yttrium-stabilized zirconia, and for increasing the ion-transports along the grain boundaries (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method ensures production of a zirconia-based layer on a deposition substrate with stable phase transformation behavior, good mechanical properties and thermal barrier performance.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method for producing a zirconia-based layer on a deposition substrate, under use of reactive spark deposition using pulsed spark current and/or the application of a magnetic field that is perpendicular to the spark target, where a mixed target consists of elementary zircon and a stabilizer, comprises producing a layer in cubic and/or tetragonal crystal structure, where the oxygen partial pressure is 10 Pa. The concentration ratio of zirconium oxide and the stabilizer is pre-defined on the layer through the concentration ratio of zircon and the stabilizer in the mixed target. The cubic and/or tetragonal crystal structure is reached through the selection of concentration of the stabilizer in the mixed target. The oxygen partial pressure is reached, when reaching the cubic and/or tetragonal crystal structure in free position parameter, for the specification of the layer morphology. The reactive gas is oxygen and nitrogen. A layer that consists of zircon, oxygen and nitrogen is produced through adjusting the pressure ratio during reactive spark deposition, with cubic and/or tetragonal crystal structure. The oxygen content is set by total pressure reduction. The zirconium oxide-based layer is applied as pure zirconia in cubic crystal structure on a cubic recrystallised layer having zircon, nitrogen and oxygen. The layer is produced in a layer packet through variation of oxygen/nitrogen-content as multiple layer. The application of the layer is carried out at 200-700 degrees C. The formation of cubic or tetragonal phase is carried out by thermal balance condition. The oxides of other metals are incorporated as zirconium in the layer material. The deposition substrate has a metallic surface. A protective layer is applied on the metallic surface. The protective layer consists of metal such as zirconium, nitride such as zirconium nitride or oxide. The process gas is argon. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) an anode for a reactive spark deposition source; and    (2) a method for operating a reactive spark deposition plant with an anode.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a X-ray diffraction spectroscopy of yttrium-stabilized zirconia in X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (Drawing includes non-English language text).