Ru-Ti-Ir-Ta/Ti　quarternary　metal　oxide　titanium　anodes　with　sandwich　coating　structure　were　prepared　by　thermal　decomposition　and　sol-gel　method,　respectively.　The　phases　and　micro-morphologies　of　the　two　coatings　were　investigated　by　means　of　XRD　and　SEM.　The　electrocatalytic　activity　of　the　coatings　was　studied　and　compared　by　Tafel　curve　and　cyclic　voltammetry　curve.　It　is　demonstrated　that　the　main　phases　in　the　coatings　prepared　by　different　techniques　are　mainly　rutile-type　solid　solution　(Ir,　Ta)O2　and　(Ti,　Ru)O2.　Metallic　Ru　is　found　in　the　coating　prepared　by　thermal　decomposition.　The　crystals　in　the　coating　prepared　by　sol-gel　are　finer.　The　morphologies　of　the　coatings　by　thermal　decomposition　and　sol-gel　are　obviously　different.　The　former　is　distinctly　dry　cracked-mud　like,　and　the　latter　shows　the　detritus-type.　The　result　indicates　that　the　titanium　anode　prepared　by　sol-gel　have　the　better　electrocatalytic　activity　and　corrosion　resistance　than　that　by　thermal　decomposition.