<p>For the first time, a graphite sheet supported palladium (Pd) and ruthenium (Ru) composite catalyst (denoted as Pd_xRu_y/GS) (catalyst a) for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is synthesized using an air calcination approach, in which RuO₂·3H₂O, PdO and graphite are employed as the starting materials. Of note, the atomic ratio of Ru in RuO₂·3H₂O to Pd in PdO is 7:1, and the calcination temperature and the calcination time are respectively 800°C and 1 h. For comparison, the catalyst prepared using RuO₂·3H₂O and graphite is denoted as Ru/GS (catalyst b), and the catalyst synthesized employing PdO and graphite is denoted as Pd/GS (catalyst c). As analysed by XRD (X-ray diffraction) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), RuO₂, metallic Ru, PdO, metallic Pd and graphite with a higher crystallinity are indicated to be the main substances of catalyst a. As demonstrated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) curves, the over-potential required for achieving –10 mA cm⁻² on catalyst a is about 136 mV, a value being much smaller than that of catalyst b (180 mV) and c (600 mV). The Tafel slope of catalyst a for HER is about 107.4 mV dec⁻¹, much smaller than that of catalyst b (142.8 mV dec⁻¹) and c (172.4 mV dec⁻¹). More importantly, in the 10 h-CA test, the average HER current densities measured at −1.53 V <i>vs.</i> Hg/HgO in 1M KOH were, respectively, about 350 mA cm⁻², 279 mA cm⁻² and 3.3 mA cm⁻² on catalyst a, b and c. After systematic characterization and testing, the greatly decreased charge transfer resistance and the relatively higher electrochemical surface area (ECSA) value are considered to be the main reasons why catalyst a has excellent HER electrocatalytic ability. A very simple method to prepare a graphite sheet-supported Pd and Ru composite HER catalyst has been demonstrated in this work. This method, due to the rather simple preparation process and the satisfied HER performance, is very meaningful to the further exploration of alkaline HER catalyst.</p>