The enhanced use of sustainable energy sources entails strong fluctuations in the availability of electric power. As we need new approaches for energy distribution and energy storage systems, hydrogen is often discussed as a promising energy carrier. PEM electrolysis can be used to transform electrical energy from renewable sources into hydrogen. One challenge in this context is the need for catalysts, as these contribute significantly to the performance of the electrolysis cell. The commonly used platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts like Iridium are quite scarce and therefore expensive. A possible approach to reduce the Ir content is the application of magnetron sputtering for catalyst generation. By selecting the right process parameters, the desired layer properties can be set very precisely during sputtering. This ensures a large surface area with reduced material usage. The introduction of carbon can increase the surface area of the catalyst further and enhance its effectiveness. First results of investigations on the catalytic effect of sputtered Ir catalyst layers will be presented.