Abstract: A non-carbon, metal-based high temperature resistant anode of a cell for the production of aluminum has a highly conductive metal-based substrate coated with one or more electrically conductive adherent intermediate protective layers and an outer layer which is electrically conductive and electrochemically active. The electrochemically active layer contains one or more electrocatalysts fostering the oxidation of oxygen ions as well as fostering the formation of biatomic molecular gaseous oxygen from the monoatomicnascent oxygen obtained by the oxidation of the oxygen ions present at the surface of the anode in order to inhibit ionic and/or monoatomic oxygen penetration. The intermediate layer(s) constitute(s) a substantially impermeable barrier to ionic, monoatomic and/or biatomic gaseous oxygen to prevent attack of the metal-based substrate. The electrocatalyst can be iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, silicon, tin, zinc, Mischmetal oxides and metals of the Lanthanide series.