The oxygen reduction reaction on platinum that has been anodized, followed by reduction at 500 mV, has been studied in 85% orthophosphoric acid over a wide temperature range. This anodized platinum surface is more active for oxygen reduction than annealed reduced platinum in the 850–950 mV potential range and has a higher Tafel slope (1.79 RT/F at 25°C, compared to 1.04 RT/F for the annealed surface). Activation energy at the reversible potential is
14.9±1.5 normalkcal
. It is suggested that the rate‐determining step on this surface is S+O2+H++e−→SO2H under conditions in which the adsorption of the product is close to Langmuirian. Hydrogen peroxide is not appreciably involved in the reduction mechanism. These results are interpreted in terms of the surface structure of the electrode after oxide reduction.