Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated using polycrystalline gold (Au (poly)) electrode modified with chemisorbed iodine (I((ads))) submonolayer (sub I((ads))) in O(2)-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution. The sub I((ads)) Was tailored by potential-dependent partial reductive desorption of I((ads)) from its full monolayer. The Au (1 1 1) facet of the ALL (poly) electrode was considered to remain bared at the sub I((ads))/Au (poly) electrode. The interesting finding of the present study is that (unlike the bare Au (poly) electrode) the Sub I((ads))/Au (poly) electrode exhibited a quasi-reversible two-electron reduction of O(2) in alkaline media. The probable origin of the observed quasi-reversible behavior of the ORR is discussed. Experimental investigations were performed using cyclic and steady-state voltammetric, amperometric and coulometric techniques. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.