Abstract
The oxygen‐evolution reaction at gold anodes was studied in 
at 25 °C. The factors affecting the accuracy of overpotential measurements and a new cell design for improved accuracy with a Luggin‐Haber capillary are described. Current distribution in the cell, limitations imposed by competing reactions and by the IR drop included in the measurement, overpotential‐time curves at constant current density, and the accuracy with which Tafel's equation is obeyed are presented. The current density range for accurate measurements was found to be 
. Overpotential measurements taken with decreasing and increasing currents were reproducible to ±1 mv, and deviations from the Tafel line were within this variation. At constant current density the gold anodes oxidized to hydrated 
following the linear law, and the current density dependence of the oxidation rate indicated a blister mechanism.