Sn　is　one　of　the　most　important　elements　for　the　Cl2-evolving　anode　coatings,　but　it　always　used　as　a　minor　additive.　In　this　paper,　an　Sn-based　ternary　oxide　coating　with　its　composition　of　SnO2-23wt%TiO2-21wt%RuO2　was　prepared　by　a　sol-gel　technique　through　etching,　painting,　sintering　and　annealing.　The　differential　thermal　analysis　(DTA)　shows　that　the　crystallization　behavior　of　the　ternary　xerogel　is　more　similar　to　that　of　pure　xerogels　SnO2.　X-rays　diffraction　(XRD)　indicates　that　the　coating　is　composed　of　rutile　phase　(Sn,Ti,Ru)O2.　Any　other　undesired　phases,　for　example,　anatase　TiO2　and　metallic　ruthenium　phases　are　not　found　in　the　coatings.　The　microstructure　and　the　morphologies　were　studied　by　a　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM)　and　a　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM).　The　results　of　energy　dispersive　spectrometer　(EDS)　indicate　Sn　content　in　the　coatings　remain　at　high　level　and　coincident　with　the　nominal　composition.　The　grain　sizes　in　the　coatings　are　around　4　nm.　The　voltage　of　Cl2-evolution　and　O2-evolution　shows　the　ternary　coating　has　good　electrochemical　properties.　©　(2006)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.